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4 THE PgliY GLOBE IS PUBLISHED EVERY DAY AT NEWSPAPER HOW. COR. FOURTH AND MINNESOTA • TS. OFFICIAL PAPER OF ST. PAUL. SUBSCRIPTION RATES. Payable In Advance. Dally anil »-inflnj, per Month . .BO Dally and Sunday. Six .Mo:- *. . $2.76 Dally and Sunday. One Year . . .#5.00 Dal ly per Month . . . .40 Dctlly Only, Six Month* . . 92.29 Dally Only, One Year . . . #4.00 Sunday Only, One Year. .. . c <* "Weekly, On* Year. . . $1.00 Address all letters and telegrams to THE GLOBE. St. I'aul. Minn. EASTERN ADVERTISING OKKICE. ROOM 617, TEMPLE COURT BUILDING, NEW YORK. .WASHINGTON BUREAU. 1403 F. ST. N. W. Complete filet of the Globe always kept on hand for reference. TODAY'S WEATHER. WASHINGTON, March 4.— Forecast: For Minnesota and the Dakotas: Cloudy and threatening, with light snows; easterly, Winds. For Montana: Cloudy and threatening; warmer; easterly winds. For Wisconsin: Increasing cloudiness; probably followed by rain or snow in the afternoon; warmer; southeasterly winds. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. United States Department of Agriculture. /Weather Bureau, Washington, March 4, 6:48 p. m. Local Time. 8 p. m. 76t_ Meridian Time.— Observations taken at the same mo ment of time at all stations. TEMPERATURES. Vlace. Tern. Place. Tern. Bt. Paul 20 Minnedosa 12 Duluth 20 Winnipeg 20 Huron 22 Boston 16-20 Bismarck 20 Buffalo 14-10 "Williston 14 Cheyenne 30-32 "Havre 2 Chicago 28-28 Helena 12 Cincinnati 3G-40 Edmonton 4 Helena 12-14 Battleford 6 Montreal 14-22 Prince Albert —2 New Orleans ....70-80 Calgary —8 New York 16-28 Medicine Hat 6 Pittsburg 28-32 Swift Current 4 Winnipeg 20-24 Qu'Appelie 8 •- Below zero. DAILY MEANS. Barometer. 30.34; thermometer, 25; relative humidity, C 7; wind, southeast; weather. Cloudy; maximum thermometer, 32; minimum thermometer, 18; daily range. 14; amount of rainfall or melted snow in last twenty-four hours, 0. Note— Barometer corrected for temperature and elevation. —P. F. Lyons. Observer. I XEAIUXG ITS END. It appears, from the decision of the federal court at Seattle yesterday, that the Washington judges are not yet quite satisfied to end the little drama in which they are playing a part which has now become something less than creditable to themselves. Although it has been difficult at any time since the controversy over the Northern Pa cific receivership began to account for the action of this court .on grounds compatible with the dignity and Im partiality that are supposed to be the attributes of every court of such au thority, yet there was some room for [difference of opinion as to their mo tives in their earliest acts, if none as to the wisdom of the course which they saw fit to pursue. To set aside a rule of judicial comity for no other purpose than to divide the managing control of a great transcontinental railway system, thereby impairing its operation and rendering the rehabilitation of its affairs difficult or impossible, was an act difficult of explanation. The ac tion yesterday, reaffirming this posi tion, in the face of an opinion rendered by the judges* of all the' circuits in Which the property of the Northern Pacific lies, does not admit of any ex planation at all that is creditable to this court or that its friends would care to see in print. This decision is surprising for two reasons; first because of the trivial reason alleged for it, and second be cause it must of necessity be futile. The sole effect will be to keep Mr. Burleigh in his receivership for a few Weeks longer, and to gather for the •Judges whatever of political capital they can find in a course so repug nant to the public interest and so at variance with the traditions of the bench. It is a very high price that they will have to pay for an advantage BO trifling and so problematical. The Secision is based, apparently, upon the argument that it is necessary, for the protection of creditors, to have a separate receiver in each jurisdiction Whenever a corporation becomes in solvent. This 13 utterly absurd. The court acknowledges the primary juris diction assigned to the court of Judge Jenkins at Milwaukee. They gave away any case that they might have had in so doing. But they hold that this applies only to the matter of ac counting. When it comes to the mat ter of operation, each section is entitled to a receiver. It is necessary only to note that if this is true of Washing ton, it is true of every other state traversed by the Northern Pacific, in all of which it presumably has cred itors. Tho theory of the Washington Court would thus call for ten separate receivers, each alone and supreme in his own jurisdiction. This is not only contrary to common sense and to uni form practice, but It would also ef fectively destroy the possibility of oper ating the system as a whole, wreck it financially, and make its divided and warring sections an easy prey to any one who might wish to acquire them. It may not be too uncharitable to suspect that some such object as this was floating in the minds of those Who rendered the decision. The wonder is that, when they had reached their determination, they were not able to assign for their act some reason which .would at least wear a specious appear- ance of plausibility. Without wasting more time on an argument which its authors can scarce ly have expected to he taken seri ously, we turn to the e<.u"S.'lly singular futility of their course. The Washing ton judges must be aware that they have no power to perpetuate the anom alous condi^fbn of affairs into which they would plunge the Northern Pa cific. Its management, as now con flucted, in the Interest of the stock holders and with a marked degree of efficiency, will not be disturbed by this action of the Seattle court. The pew phase of .affairs will' simply require a journey" to the Pacific coast by the supreme justice assigned to that ;• cir cuit. He will hold court there, make an order removing Mr. Burleigh and appointing Messrs. Mcllenry and Bige low, and there the contest will end. For even Judges Hanford and Gilbert will scarcely care to carry their con tumacy to the point that would invite removal by impeachment for cause. It is intimated that, since Judge Field's age would make this duty a heavy burden upon him. one of the other justices will be assigned to that circuit for carrying out the decision of the court. The supreme court of the United States is not In the habit of seeing its mandates disobeyed and its decisions flippantly set asidy and since the agree. ment of the four justices had all the weight of a formal decree, we may be sure that it will be carried into effect without delay. It is unfortunate that the western court should have chosen to raise to the point of scandal a judicial contest that ought never to have arisen. They must bear the re sponsibility. As far as the actual fut ure and management of the road are concerned, all practical questions were settled when primary jurisdiction was located in the Milwaukee court. The influences which are at work to con- tinue opposition to that decision will be as unsuccessful as they are im- politic and unwise. __, : CHEAPER LIGHTING. CHEAPER LIGHTING. The arrangement with the city pro- posed by the St. Paul Gas Light com pany and accepted by the board of aldermen last night is so much to the public advantage that we cannot doubt its ratification by the assembly. The net result will be, as shown by the* Globe heretofore, a saving of about $40,000 in the cost of street lighting; and joined with this is another large saving to private consumers by the re duction of the net price of gas to them from $1.50 to $1.30 per thousand feet. This is a great gain in both directions, and must be regarded as a satisfactory outcome of the agitation of the light- ing question that has been in progress for some months past. As the bids submitted showed, the lowest cost -to the city for street light ing was. to be obtained by accepting the bid of the gas light company for electric lights in district number two, and for gas lighting in the other parts of the city. For the most part this was not only a measure of economy, but was in accord wit,h the wishes of the people. The central business sec- tion is the one best adapted to and most suited for the arc light system. The residence districts are mostly op posed to it. In at least one other dis trict, including a portion of the busi- ness section, a large portion of the people would prefer the arc lights; but, as this arrangement could have been secured only at the cost of the whole city, it was . obviously necessary to defer the change until another season, and to make the best arrangement practicable for the present. It was in this connection that the gas light company played its trump card. It offered, in. case. its bid were accepted for gas for the whole city, or for electric lighting in the one dis trict and gas in the a others, to make the reduction stated >- to private con sumers over the entire city. Con sidering the fact that this proposition was, as a whole, most desirable finan cially on the city's part, that It could not be thrown aside without raising the whole cost of street lighting sev eral thousand dollars, arid that upon its acceptance or rejection depended the reduced rate for the people, the council would not have been justified in refusing so great a benefit to the public. The people of St. Paul have abundant reason to be satisfied with the arrangement agreed upon. It lasts for but a year in any event; and then, if more active competition appears, we shall be able to make still more favor- able terms. In the meantime the pub lic is to be congratulated upon a prop- I osition which carries with it a reduc tion so material in the cost of both public and private lighting. — — —^ THE SWAMP LAND GRANTS. It is not easy to understand the atti tude of the interior department in re sisting the claim of the state to the swamp lands in the reservations about to be thrown open to set- tlement. The same reasons of good public policy that secured the adoption of the policy of giving these lands to the states to be used in facilitating internal Improvements exist today in greater force than ever. The abolition of sales of public lands and the re striction to settlement under the home- stead act leave these lands inaccessi ble to the public. No man will take land, either wholly or largely swamp, for a homestead as long as he can pro- cure dry land, nor can congress use them as it has so lavishly used other and arable lands in the past as a stim ulant to the construction . of railways. The day of land grants has, happily, passed, and the pity is that it ever ar rived. It is true that these lands have been most shamelessly «tnd recklessly squan dered in the past by the legislatures of this state. It is true that legislators have been smirched by the scandals growing out of the contests of rival companies for grants of the swamp lands. And, if a repetition of them were possible, we can understand that an honest administration would be willing to avail itself of every tech nicality to withhold further provender for the lobbyists and their associates on the floor of the legislature. But fifteen years ago the people of this state, shocked by the profligacy of their representatives, withdrew the swamp lands from their control. By the amendment of 1881 all swamp lands then belonging to t|.e state, and all j that it might hereafter acquire, were I THE SAINT PAUL DAILY Gl_OBK: THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 5, 1896. dedicated to the school fund of the state. They are "to be appraised and sold, in the same manner and by the same , officers, and , the minimum price shall be the same, less one-third, as provided by law for the appraisement and sale of school lands." The same amendment provided that "the prin cipal of all funds derived from the sale of swamp lands shall forever be preserv ed inviolate and undiminished/'one-half of the income to go to the common school fund and the remaining half to the educational and charitable institu tions of the state. Surely, with this safeguard, with every reason for the original policy re maining and intensified, there should be no hesitation on the part of the in terior department in following the pol icy adopted and continued for over forty years. The ground that the for mer acts of grant applied only to lands to which the United States then had title is too technical. The United States was as much the owner, under the French cession, of these lands as It is now. At most the Indians re linquished only an easement in the lands, and their fee title was never more seriously regarded than as a se- date sort of diplomatic fiction. There is no good ground for distinguishing between the claim of the state to these swamp lands and its claim to the sec- tions 16 and 36 in each township for the school fund, the validity of which has been recognized and admitted. The argument of the attorney general pre sented by the governor to the Indian bureau is a forcible and conclusive presentation of the claim of the state. -4*. ANOTHER DEFEAT POR ITALY. When the colonizing fever, that had been burning in the veins of other European nations, infected Italy, there was very little available ground left in Africa for her to plant her colonists on under the thin veil of a protectorate over the barbarous^ or semi-civilized natives. The English, Portuguese, French and Belgians had taken first choice and swelled their territorial pos- sessions by conquests and protecto- rates over the native tribes, who, how- ever courageous, had not the intelli gence to make their force efficient nor the means to obtain the armament needed to cope with their invaders. England had assumed, after an ex pensive and not wholly successful war, a paper dominion over Abyssinia, held by a precarious tenure and promising infinite trouble and expense for the future. It was not unwillingly there- fore, that, when Italy felt it incumbent to aid in carrying civilization and re- ligion into the dark continent, England secretly consented to endow her with her rights, title and property in that rugged region, rugged In its topog raphy and its people, and transferred Massowah and its adjacent territory to the mistress of the Adriatic. It was a bad selection for Italy. She should have been suspicious of assum ing a control that England was so will- ing to relinquish. It has not been the habit of that country to let go any thing that was good or could be cheap- ly held. But Italy rushed impetuously into what she has found to be the largest undertaking in her history, and one whose success is by no means sure. Two armies have been nearly annihi lated already, and Rome howls over the latest and most humiliating defeat. It is with no Cetewayo or Lobengula that Italy has to deal. If is with no tribe of savages armed with bows and spears that she has to contest. Of all the tribes that have composed what is known as Abyssinia, the Shoans are the most capable, intelligent, rugged and warlike. They trace their ancestry to the Bedouin Arabs, though their re ligion is a medley of the Jewish, the Greek and the Mohammedan faiths. Religion has not restrained them from warfare, as it has not other nations with great pretensions; and their his- tory is one long story of tribal fights, revolutions and resistance of Moham medan incursions. In addition to this training they inhabit a country that has been tossed by the convulsions of nature into mountain ranges with nar- row passes easily held, a rough, rug- ged country, poorly adapted to the maneuvers of trained troops and well suited to guerrilla warfare. To these mountain fastnesses the Abyssinians have always retreated, whether in their Internecine wars or when pressed by a foreign foe, and it has been found im- possible to dislodge them. It was in these narrow defiles that the Italian army met a severe repulse a short time ago, and it was down the sides of another that the dusky hordes poured on the forces of Gen. Baratieria a few days ago. Recently King Menelik was said to be seeking the intervention or Russia to secure a treaty of peace with the Italians. Russian interests in Abys sinia have been cultivated, and the similarity of religions has facilitated friendly relations. It was a Russian officer who commanded Menelik's forces when the former defeat was in- flicted on the Italians. Later advices were that the dervishes from the Sou- dan had enlisted themselves with the Abyssinians against the invader, and the tactics employed against the col umns of Baratieria recall those of the Mahdi against the English in their Soudanese expeditions. If the contest were had on ground where troops could be maneuvered, it is likely that the 46,000 well armed and drilled Ital ians would be able to cope with the 60,000 Abyssinians and their allies; but in a country like that where the contests have taken place it is not a question of numbers, but of position; and mere numbers cannot avail when cooped up in narrow defiles, surround- ed by a superior force, fighting on se lected ground and against attenuated lines. Italian pride is stirred, and chagrin adds its spur, and it is prob able that a strenuous effort will be made to subjugate the Abyssinians; but the war will be a long and terribly costly one both in money and lives, and ■ the result is by no-means certain. That I such an enterprise should be is*Jer- taken for mere glory .by a country whose people are today the ■most tax- ridden in Europe shows how little re- moved the nations still are from the barbaric age. m , ClllAN RECOGNITION. i CUBAN RECOGNITION. If, as is announced, the president and the cabinet have determined that this government should not, at the present time, recognize the bell'gerency of the Cuban insurgents, ' we thing that it is the first serious I errou' that has ap peared in Mr. Cleveland's, foreign pol- icy. He has managed the foreign re- lations of this country* with admirable skill -and rare foresight. In the Ha- waiian matter he 'saved us fiom what would hay) been, a; [lasting disgrace to the nation arid .a" stain upon its name. In the Nicaragua case he paid no heed to the ridiculous demand of the jingoes, and taught the Central American republics that they cannot violate the usages of nations, and de- pend for support in '_ wrong position upon the United In the Yen- ezuelan affair he? not only cut the ground from under th.? opposition, but achieved a triumph whose results are immeasurable. It ls not too much to say that the Venezuelan proclamation of Mr. Cleveland established finally the Monroe doctrine beyond possibility of denial, and that it averted what might otherwise have become a collision be- tween Great Britain and the United States. In the case of Cuba, also, he has acted up to this time with proper deliberation. But the day has come when, ln the interests of justice, and in response to the overwhelming opin- ion of our people, the patriots in arms against the Spanish government should be recognized as belligerents. We admit fully, as is set forth in the statements sent out from Washington, that the existence of a belligerent party in any country is a question of fact. That question se2ms to us, however, to be settled in the affirmative. The peo ple of Cuba have been for ten years in arms against the tyranny of Spain. If at different times they have yielded for a while to the' crushing power of military force, it has never been either a voluntary submission, or a pledge of future acquiescence. They have always demanded their freedom, and for many months now have held their own against all the armies that Spain could send against them. If. they can derive aid and comfort from a recognition by the United States,* th^y are entitled to it. As we have said, it is an open question whether a recognition of bel- ligei ency would prove to them the boon that it is commonly irrlagined; but they want it, and the people of the United States want to <• give it, and it is inherently,, right,' and consist- ent with our own national in- terests. Under the circumstances as they exist, Spain is not en- titled to regard it' as a hostile act. Un- friendly she might consider it, but no more. . Her friendship we would bet- ter sacrifice rather than to permit the carnival of horrors which Gen. Weyler has inaugurated to go on forever un- checked. — • '»;.' It is not because of the declarations embodied by the two houses in their resolutions that we think the presi- dent should take this step. The action of the house of representatives, at least, counts for nothing. Its resolu tions by mob law represent only the abdication- of its place as a deliberat ive body, and its title to speak . for the people. But independent of all else, simply in view of the situation as it actually exists today, considering how closely our own interests are in- volved, in behalf of a people strug gling against unbearable ills, in the cause of humanity and in the name of liberty herself, it is due to us, as well as the people of Cuba, that this nation recognize formally a practical situa tion that actually exists. Not on the ground of mere party ex- pediency, but for the sake of right, and following the pointing of our duty as a nation, we say that the adminis tration should recognize the Cuban revolutionists as belligerents, and that | any refusal or delay hereafter must be considered a blunder that falls little short of an offense against freedom. m — --— AT THE THEATERS. \ ______________ A. M. Palmer's company will begin a re- turn engagement at the Metropolitan opera house tonight in "Trilby." j This return en- gagement will be the farewell visit of "Tril- by" to this city. - - » *' • • The sale of seats for (the Salvinl engage- ment wilil open at 1 the I Metropolitan this evening. * ',* * "In Old Kentucky" was iseen at the Grand "In Old Kentucky"i,was iseen at the Grand yesterday by two of the largest audiences ever in the house. The matinee was the larg est in the history of the theater. The attrac tion will undoubtedly^ play to big audiences during the balance of the week. ii ' a» ia _ FAILURE. OP A?^LORIST. FAILURE Ot? A FLORIST. . r r,v '.*''■ Louis G. Venske Asxlprn.s to Cliarlea Louis G. Venxke As*lpri_i to Chnrlesj Conradift. Louis G. Venzke, the . florist, whose place of business is at the corner of West Sixth and St. Peter strets, made an assignment to Charles Conradis yes- terday for the benefit of his creditors. No estimate of the assets has been filed •as yet. -* -^- _ "WITH INTENT TO AMUSE. Customer— l want a ribbon for my type- Customer— l want a ribbon for my type- writer. *y >y? • • - Dealer— Yes, sir. Complexion, sir?— Detroit Tribune. "Got on your husband's cravat, haven't you?" asked a neighbor of - Mrs. Bilkins. "Yes," replied Mrs. 8., sadly, "it's the only tie there is between us now." Harlem Life. Wickwire — Sometimes I think it would be a good idea if a man could be treated like a horse shot when he gets too old to work. Yabsley— lt is pretty near that way now. When a man gets too old to work he is fired. — Indianapolis Journal. '.{'.[ vyy.y "Dr. Jarley is simply wrapped up in his pro- fession." I should say he was. Why. they do say that when he proposed to Madge Willough- by he never squeezed her hand once, but kept his thumb on her. pulse all the time." Har- per's Bazar. Lady at the Door— l believe, In my heart you are the same tramp I gpvetcelarge piece of pie to a few days ago ! ' -r ; Tramo— No ma'am; T»j>i'pe mistaken. He's I dead.— Yonkers Statesman, ; " 3 ''PI! ! Tobacco Chewing Husbans .(after ascending the stairs)— l am all outtof^ireath. :.•'. k wi' "lieu kiu . me. please.— York .Weekly. GAS FOB $1.30 JET THE COMPANY, CONDITIONALLY, AGREES TO REDUCE IT TO PRIVATE CONSUMERS. TERMS OF THE REDUCTION. ENTIRE CITY TO BE LIGHTED IN THAT WAY AT *2U A THAT WAY AT $23 A . LAMP. ELECTRICITY POR ONE DISTRICT. The 11 our il of Aldermen, After Hours of Debute, Take Step* to Se- cure Cheaper Gun. If the assembly concurs with the board of aldermen in its action on the city lighting bids last night, the net price of gas to all private consumers in the city of St. Paul will be reduced on June 1 next from $1.50 to $1.30 per thousand feet. The board of aldermen received this positive assurance from F. W. M. Cutcheon, the attorney for the St. Paul Gaslight company. Act- ing upon this assurance, the board, af ter a session lasting until 11 o'clock, adopted two resolutions. By the first resolution the board ac- cepted the proposal of the St. Paul Gaslight company to light the entire city with gas, beginning April 1, at the price of $23 per lamp per year. By the second resolution the bid of the gas company to light district No. 2 with electricity, beginning May 15, at the price of $69.50 per arc per year, was accepted. Both resolutions instructed the city attorney to prepare a proper contract to be entered into with the gas company. • These two measures, simple as they seem* were not adopted without a long struggle, in which Aid. Murphy, Kar- tak and Wolf constituted the chief op- position, though aided occasionally by the vote of Aid. Lindahl, who appeared to think that the Seventh ward was getting the best of everything. Even on the second resolution Aid. Lindahl first voted no, which would have de- feated it— a two-thirds vote being re- quired,— but he changed his vote after a speech by Aid. Markham, which will go on record as the hottest that has ever been delivered in the council chamber since the present body came into existence. Much of the debate was tedious owing to the errors, misunderstand- ings and confusion that some of the al dermen labored under, but the wind- up atoned for all. The matter came before the board in the shape of the report from the board of public works, city engineer and corporation attorney, which was ex- pected the previous evening. The re- port is concise, tabulating the bids as follows: The board of public works, the city en- gineer and the corporation attorney, to whom were referred the bids of the various parties for lighting the city with gas and electricity, in accordance with the specifications here- tofore prepared, have examined the same and report as follows: By the specifications for, lighting with gas it is provided among other things as follows: "The right, however, is reserved to said city j to decrease from time to time the number < of lamps in service and to discontinue the ! lighting by gas of the whole or any portion of any street or particular number of streets, or any particular section of the city." The specifications for lighting with gas provide that the work to be done under the con- tract awarded therefor shall commence April 1, 1896, while it contracts are awarded for lighting with electricity, the work thereun der is not to commence until May 15. 1896. Between these dates all portions of the city heretofore lighted with gas must continue to be lighted with gas, and in view of these facts and of the provision in the specifications for the discontinuance of the gas lamps, we recommend the acceptance of the bid of the St. Paul Gas Light company for lighting all the city with gas, and the award of the con- tract to that company therefor. If that portion of the city heretofore lighted with gas shall be lighted with gas for one year from the Ist of April, 1896, based upon the lamps heretofore in use, the entire cost will be $74,221 This is on a basis of 3,227 gas lamps at $23 each per annum. District No. I— The lowest bid for lighting with electricity in District No. 1 is that of the East Side Electric company, and is $145 for each electric light per annum, and to light that district with electricity would re- quire 216 electric lights, making a total cost of $31,320 per annum. To light the same district with gas as here- tofore lighted would require approximately 1,227 gas lamps, which, at a cost of $23 per annum each, amounts to $28,221. Thus it will be seen that District No. 1 can be lighted with gas for $3,099 less than with electricity. District No. 2— The lowest bid for lighting with electricity in District No. 2 is that of the St. Paul Gas Light company, which is $69.50 per electric light per year. There are required for this district eighty-five electric lights, which would make the cost of light- ing in that district $5,907.50. The approximate number of gas lamps for that district as the same has heretofore been lighted is 528, which, at a cost of $23 per lamp per year, amounts to $12,144. It will thus be seen that Dis trict No. 2 can be lighted with electricity for $6,236.50 less than with gas. District No. 3— The lowest proposal for light- ing District No. 3 with electricity Is that of the St. Paul Gas Light company, which is $148 per electric light per annum. One hundred and seven lights are necessary for this dis trict, and the cost to light the same at that rate would be $15,836 per annum. The ap- proximate number of gas lights required to light this district as the same has heretofore been lighted Is 612, which would cost, at the rate of $23 per annum, $14,076, showing that this district can be lighted with gas for $1,760 less than with electricity. District No. 4— With respect to District No. 4 the bids are in such condition that they can be arranged in four classes, which, with the cost according to each class (there being 157 electric lights or 860 gas lamps), is as follows: First— of Edward B. Smith. 80 lights at $125 each $10,000 00 Bid of the St. Paul Gas Light com- pany, 77 lights at $150 each 11,550 00 Total iy.: $21,550 00 Second— of St. Paul Gas Light company, 157 lights at $130 $20,410 00 Third— of Edward B. Smith, 80 lights at $125 each..-. $10,000 00 Bid of St. Paul Gas Light com- pany, 403 gas lamps at $23 each 9,269 00 (457 gas lamps being displaced by tbe 80 candle power lights) Total .... $19,269 00 Fourth of the gas company, 860 gas lamps at $23 each $19,780 00 This calculation is made on the basis of 860 gas lights in the fourth district, and it appears, from this that it is cheaper by $511 to light a portion of this district with electric- ity under the proposal of Edward B. Smith, and the balance with gas. » If contracts are awarded to the lowest bid- ders as Indicated, after the contracts for lighting with electricity in Districts No. 2 and part of District No. 4 take effect, the cost of lighting the city per annum will be as fol- lows: District No. 1. $28,22100 District No. 2 .- 5,907 50 District No. 3........ 14.076 00 District No. 4. 19.269 00 Total ........... ..........:. $67.473 50 If the entire city were to be lighted with electricity and four separate contracts should be awarded therefor, accepting the lowest bid in each district, the- result would be as fol- lows : District No. 1 $31.320 00 District No. 2 5.907 50 District No. 3 15.836 00 District No. 4 20.410 00 Total $73.473 50 If the bid of the St. Paul Gas Light com- pany for lighting the entire city with elec tricity were accepted the cost would be $70. - This is on the basis of 565 electric lights at $125.44 each per annum. The proposials are tabulated as follows: Edward B. Smith, District No. 4. $125 for 80 «res. St. Paul Gas Lieht company. District No. St. Paul Gas Licrht cornnany. District No. 1. $147.50: District No. 2. $69.50: District No. 3, $148: District No. 4. $130 for all. $150 for part; all districts. $125.44. •:..,- Smith & Taylor. District No. 2. $98. Ed'son Electric Li_ht & Power company, i D'**rict No. 2. $9Q. s. ':; .,. "A East S!d<> Elecflc company. District No. 1, : $145-. District. No. 2. $105: District No. 3, $150. | Bids Tor Gas Lighting— 1 St. Paul Gas Light company, $23 per lamp per annum; $1.30 per 1,000 feet for lighting public buildings. After some discussion concerning E. B. Smith's bid, which did not develop any significant point, Aid. Brady offered a resolution that the proposal of the St. Paul Gas " Light company to light District No, 2 with electricity be accept- ed, and that Districts one, three and four be lighted with gas. .The resolu tion was at once laid over at the re quest of Aid. Brady, who thereupon in- troduced another one, which provided for the acceptance of the proposal of the St. Paul Gas Light company to light the entire city and its public buildings with gas, the contract to go into effect on' April 1. Assistant Corporation At- torney Phillips explained that the spe cifications did not call for electric light- ing to begin until May 15, and that in consequence gas must be used until then. Upon May 15, however, the board of public works had. the right to discon tinue as many gas lamps as might be desired and to substitute electric lights therefor.. The resolution in no wise suited Aid. Murphy, who at once handed up a reso tutlon to accept the total bid of the gas company for lighting the entire city with electricity at the rate of $125 per arc, which would mean $71,500, as 570 arcs are required by the specifications. In support of his resolution Aid. Murphy said: "It's funny to see these aldermen switching on this electric light ques tion. A few months ago they all want ed electricity. Under this resolution of Aid. Brady he gets his district lighted by electricity, and Aid. Ehrmanntraut gets a few arcs. We get none out our way. What will our constituents say to us? They will say, 'You fellows must have gone to sleep. The gas com pany must have owned you.' (Laugh- ter.) I hope Aid. Brady's resolution will not prevail. I can safely say that in my district three to one of the resi- dents are in favor of electricity," Aid. Murphy then moved that the whole matter be referred to the com mittee on streets, city attorney and city engineer, to prepare proper reso lutions awarding the contract to the lowest bidder. . Aid. Markham spoke in favor, of Aid. Brady's last resolution. He said that it was the first duty of the council to award the contract for gas lighting, and thereafter substitute electricity in the territory where it could obtained the cheapest. By securing competi tion between gas and electricity- the council had forced down the price per gas lamp nearly $10, and was to be congratulated for accomplishing as good a result as the most sanguine coud expect. Aid. Markham thought that nothing was to be gained by re- ferring the Brady resolution. The roll call on Aid. Murphy's mo tion to refer the resolution resulted in three votes for and eight against a ref erence. The resolution was then adopted by a vote of 8 to 3. Aldermen Murphy, Kartak and Wolf voting in the negative. Aid. Murphy then moved the adop tion of his resolution to accept the gross bid of the gas company to light the entire city with electricity, the con- tract to go into effect on May 15. Aid. Brady offered as a substitute a resolution accepting the proposal of the gas company to light District No. 2 with electricity. This nettled Aid. Murphy, who was working hard for electric lighting in his district, and he insisted on moving the adoption of his resolution before the substitute was considered. But President Ehrmanntraut ruled against him, and the vote was taken on the substitute resolution. It. resulted in six votes for and five against the measure, which was declared lost, a two-thirds vote being required. Aid. Markham then moved an amend ment to Aid. Murphy's, .resolution, whereby the Fourth district should be stricken out, as the residents of the Seventh ward were opposed to electric lighting. Aid. Murphy called atten tion to the fact that if any district were stricken out the gas company's bid on lighting the entire city would not obtain, and the cost would be greater. Aid. Markham withdrew the amendment. E. B. Smith, the owner of the Albion franchise, whose bid of $125 per arc per year was the lowest, was then allowed the privilege of the floor. Mr. Smith, I in a calm and dignified manner, argued that as he was the lowest bidder in the Fourth district, he was entitled to the contract. The fact that he could furnish only 80 arc lights out of the 157 required in the Fourth district un der the specifications, was ' understood in the beginning, and should not be considered now. Attorney Cutcheon • was next granted the floor. In an extended speech, Mr. Cutcheon reviewed "the whole situation and stated the position of the gas company. The substance of his remarks was as follows: The gas company was willing to stand by its bid to light the entire city with electric ity at the rate of $125.44 per arc, light per year, but it did not want to get such a con- tract. Mr. Cutcheon proceeded to advance ar guments against the ' all-electricity proposi tion. In the Fourth district he demonstrated that gas lighting would be $156 cheaper than any combination of gas and electricity, even though the electric lighting contract for that district should be awarded to . E. B. Smith, and the rest of the district should be lighted by gas, for the reason that Mr. Smith's arcs would displace only 428 gas lamps, and 432 lamps would have to be lighted by gas. As for "lighting the four districts with electricity, Mr. Cutcheon assured the board that 570 arc lights would not do it adequately. The next statement caused the aldermen to prick up their ears. It was this: "If you decide to put in electricity In place of gas all over the city you will decrease the gas company's output of gas at least one- third. Now I will Inform you that the gas company haa been contemplating a reduction in the price of gas to private consumers from $1.50 to $1.30 per 1,000 feet. you decrease cur output of gas in the manner mentioned, then we will be unable to say when we can reduce the price to private consumers. On the other hand, if the gas company's all-gas bid is accepted and all others rejected, or if Its bid for all gas lighting and its bid for electric lighting in District No. 2 are accepted, then unless something unforeseen happens, I am confident that the company will on June 1 reduce the price of gas to private consumers from $1.50 to $1.30 per 1,000 feet. This would represent a saving of $32,000 to private con- sumers. I am not authorized to promise this absolutely, but I sincerely believe the company will do as I have said." Aid. Markham spoke against Aid. Mur phy's resolution for all electricity. He said that the general feeling In the Seventh ward was in favor of gas, and on Summit avenue the opposition to electricity was unanimous. Aid. Ulmer moved that the resolution be re ferred to the committee on streets. At this juncture Mr. Cutcheon came forward and said: After consulting with Mr. Ellison, I give the positive assurance that, if the gas company's all-gas bid is. accepted, and all other bids re jected, or if the gas company's bid for all gas lighting and its bid for electric lighting in District No. 2 are accepted, all other bids being rejected, the city then cutting off gas in District No. 2, the gas company will re duce the net price of gas from $1.50 per 1.000 feet, to $1.30 per 1.000 feet, meaning upon bills paid prior to the 10th of the month, or. In other words, will reduce the gross price from $1.75 to $1.50." The motion of Aid. Ulmer to refer the Mur phy resolution to the committee on streets was then put to a vote. and defeated by a vote of 9 to 2. whereupon Aid. Murphy re newed his motion to adopt the resolution. On the roll call the vote was' as follows: . Ayes: kartak. Lindahl. Murphy. rimer. Wolf— Nays: Brady. Markham. Hare, Mil ham. Montgomery. Ehrmanntraut — 6. The resolution- was declared lost. .-■"..'• Thereupon Aid. Brady Introduced as an original measure a resolution to accept the bid of the gas company to light District No. 2 with electricity. The roll call proceeded at once. Aid. Brady and Aid. Hare voted "aye." and Aids. Kartak and Lindahl answered "No" to their names. Two more "nays" would kill the resolution. Aid. Markham realized this. and in response to the call of his name, he rose and "explained" his vote in the follow ing language: "There would appear to be a certain number of gentlemen on this floor who, by voting against this resolution, would entail an ad ditional expense of nearly $7,000 upon this city and at the same time sacrifice the sav ing of $32,000 to private consumers, which would result if the proposition of the gas company is met. These gentlemen are going to refuse to accept a reduction of $7,000 In District No. 2 by voting against a resolution that not only would effect" such a saving but give a better light for District No. 2. which comprises the business district. Think of if What kind of a position is it for a member of this council to assume, just because he thinks he can't get what he wants In some particu lar district! , "I tell you, gentlemen, your position Is wholly indefensible, and your constituents and th« people at large will call you to account "for it, you may be sure. • I say It is the duty of this board to accept the proposition of the gas company, and I also say that the people of this city will demand that you accept It. You can't justify your refusal to accept It, and you will be called upon to sustain your adverse vote. Whatever differences of opin ion may exist as to the other propositions, you cannot connect them with this. This talk may seem a little strong, but I want to have this thing understood, so that no member of this board can afterwards say that he voted under a misapprehension." The clerk proceeded with the roll call Aid. Murphy and Aid. Wolf voted "no thus swelling the "nays" to four, but just as President Ehrmanntraut was about to declare the result. Aid. Lindahl arose and, after re marking that the whole proceedings resulted in a great victory for the gas company and the Seventh ward, changed his vote to "aye." This gave the affirmative the necessary two thirds vote, and the president declared the resolution adopted. Both resolutions will reach the assembly tonight. • If concurred in, the city of St. Paul will be lighted with gas until May 15. and the Second district will be illuminated with electricity thereafter. A report was received from the committee on fire department recommending that the January and February pay rolls be passed. Aid. Brady wanted the report referred back to the fire department as there was not a quo rum present at the committee meeting. Aid. Markham moved that the report be adopted and the pay rolls be allowed, and added that the ultimate result would be that the council would be obliged to pass the pay rolls as fixed by the fire board. His motion was lost, however, by a vote of 5 to 6. It was noticed, however, that Aid. Ulmor, who has been voting with Aid. Brady and his followers in this matter, changed his mind and voted to pass the pay rolls. The board then recommitted the pay roll* to the committee on fire department. Aid. Ehrmanntraut Introduced an ordinance fixing the salaries of the police department on the same schedule as that submitted by Chief Clark to the conference committee. Aid. Ehr manntraut said that he introduced the ordi nance in the hope that the board would take final action in the matter, as the police pay rolls had been tied up top long. Aid. Brady moved that the ordinance be re ferred to the committee on police. The ordi nance was so referred by a vote of 8 to 8, Aid. Markham, Montgomery and Ehrmann- traut voting In the negative. Aid. Lindahl wanted to withdraw his ordi- nance submitting the Howard charter to tha vote of the people from the special joint com- mittee to which It was referred several months ago. He thought the committee had treated him discourteously, and moved that the ordinance be taken from the committee. The motion was lost, however, by a vote of 7 to 4. On recommendation of Health Commis sioner Stone the contract for furnishing the health department with a bacteriological ap paratus was awarded to Noyes Bros. & Cut ler, who were the only bidders. The amount bid is about $750. ACCIDENTS AND RUNAWAYS. More Than the Usual Number of Such Occurrences. Andrew Thorne, who works for a farmer named Johnson, living just east of the city, was hurrying across the car tracks at Fifth and Robert streets last evening at 6 o'clock with a heavily loaded hay rack, when the reach pole broke, throwing Thomas to the pave ment. The street crossing was crowd ed at the time, and the horses started on a run down Robert street, dragging the driver in their wake. Officer Hen ry Gruber, however, averted a serious accident by jumping at the heads of the frightened animals and bringing them to a standstill. When Thorne had recovered his feet it was found he had not been injured, and the work of getting the load of hay off the street car tracks was be gun. At this stage of the proceedings a stranger, who is said to be a traveling man, began offering advice. He was somewhat under the influence of liquor, and became very insistent that his plan of removing the wagon be adopted. The man finally got into an argument with Officer Gruber and several . by- standers, which resulted in his arrest on the charge of being drunk and en- gaging in disorderly conduct. An exciting runaway took place on Third street at 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon, which culminated in a gen- eral smashup at Third and Jackson. No one was seriously injured, . though William Smith, the driver for Cramer's West Side grocery store, sustained a severe shaking up in the collision. The animal causing the trouble belonged to Samuel Bone. Mr. Bone and two friends were driving down Third street when the horse became frightened and started down the hill on a run. See- ing a collision with Cramer's wagon Inevitable, Mr. Bone and his two friends jumped in time to save them selves. Smith was unable to get be yond the impending danger and re- ceived several cuts about the head. Both wagons were completely demol ished. Patrick Flarity, a one-armed man, was knocked down and run over by a delivery wagon driven by Charles Con nell, at Seventh and Robert streets, at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. He was shook up, but escaped serious injury. THROWN PROM HIS WHEEL. Rev. C. W. Scovel Meet* With a Se rious Accident. • Rev. C. W. Scovel, the assistant pas- tor of the House of Hope church, met with a serious accident at Seventh and Cedar streets last evening by being vio lently thrown from a bicycle against the stone curb. Mr. Scovel was picked up in an unconscious condition and car- ried to Dr. Appleby's office, where some time was required to restore him to his normal condition. A gash over the left eye, penetrating to the bone, was sewed up by Dr. Appleby, when Mr. Scovel was taken in a carriage to his home, at 174 College avenue. Dr. Appleby was of the opinion last evening that Mr. Scovel may have suffered a severe con- cussion of the brain. The accident occurred shortly after 7 o'clock, while Mr. Scovel was riding down Seventh street. Just as the foot of the hill between Wabasha and Cedar streets was reached, a cloud of dust i completely blinded Mr. Scovel, causing him to lose control of his machine. The . bicycle suddenly swerved toward the sidewalk and threw its rider. The full extent of Mr. Scovel's injuries will not be known until today, though Dr. Appleby, after a visit to his patient at 11 o'clock last evening, reported him to be resting comfortably, with no posi tive indications of more serious conse quences. HOULTON WAS ELECTED Superintendent of the St. Cloud Re. foruiutory. After six ballots ex-Senator William H. Houlton, of Elk River, was elected superintendent of the St. Cloud re- formatory yesterday morning, by tha board of managers of the reformatory in session at the Merchant's hotel. There were about fifteen other candi- dates. Several of these presented peti tions. "Mr." Houlton's chief com- petitor was Capt. Compton, the present assistant bank examiner. Other candi dates, with many recommendations, were James Ege, ex-Sheriff of Henne , pin county; Alonso Barto, of St. Cloud; Deputy Warden Lemon, of the state prison, and O. M. Hall, of Duluth. Capt. Houlton was born in Maine, and went to Elk River ln 1856. He en- listed in a Minnesota regiment- and served throughout the rebellion. He has been engaged ln banking and mill ing at Elk River for many years, ac- cumulating a competence. He is an extensive owner of farming lands In the vicinity of his home. He is, of course, a Republican. He has served in. the state senate, but has never held a position in any way similar to that which he will hereafter occupy. An ex-member of the state board of chari- ties and corrections said last night: "The appointment was purely a politi cal one." But Capt. ; Houlton's prede cessors were also men without previous experience in the duties of their office. Officer Hoefer!'* Assullnut*. Joe Igo. Louis Halpln, . Michael McMahoa [ and Steven Devorak. supposed to be members of the crowd of men who brutally assaulted 1 Officer Hoefer, at Snventh and Walnut streets. •early last Sunday, were arraigned in ths ! municipal court yesterday. y They • were put | tinder $25 ball each to appear March 7. - i