VOL. XXII.—NO. 346.
GOLD AS STANDARD
UR. DOM.IVER, OF IOWA, CHAM
PIONS CURRENCY MEASURE
FOR REPUBLICANS
DEBATE EXCmitl THROUGHOUT
MX. UK ARMOXD, OF MISSOI 111,
RBPBBBBNTBD THE OPPOSI
TION TO THE MEASURE
APPLAUSE WAS GENEROUS
Republicans < hnrneil With ,hiKt;Him
the Finances of the Country In
the interest of the Hank Trust-
Mr. De Armond Predicted Defeat
of the Majority in ISKJO Upon the
i-sue Itaisfd In the Currency Bill.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—The feature
of the opening day in the debate on the
currency bill in the house was the
speech of Mr. Dolliver, of lowa. It was
characterized by all the wit and eloquence
for which the lowan is noted, and held
the members, without regard to party,
for more than two hours.
Mr. Uolliver declared that the la^t
doubt of the Republican party as to the
wisdom of enacting the gold standard
Into law had been dissolved by the ex
perience of the business world during the
past three years. He scored Mr. Bryan,
and generally ridiculed the alleged proph
ecles of tha Democrats In 18£6.
Mr. De Arrnond (Mo.)was the heavy sun
on the Democratic side. He warned the
Democrats from the West that they could
not deceive their constituents in the
coming election that they had yielded
to the judgment of their colleagues In
caucus.
Mr. Overstreet opened the debate for
the Republicans, and Mr. Maddox (.Ga.)
replied to him.
Mr. McClellan (N. V.) was the only
other speaker today. He announced his
opposition to the bill on the ground that
It would contract tha currency, extinguish
the bank notes and enhance the value of
coin bonds. He appealed to those of bis
Democratic colleagues from New York,
■who, it is reported, intend to vote for
the bill, not to do so.
After describing the various kinds of
money in u*e in the Cnited States, Mr.
Overstreet said:
"The history of government efforts to
force legal tender money into circulation.
Irrespective of its intrinsic value and
without the government reserve, Is a
record of failures without a single excep
tion. All of the various kinds of money
In the United States are based on a com
mon standard of value in which each can
be measured. The present standard of
value in this country Is gold, and has
been so recognized in practice for more
than half a century.'
He then proceeded with an elaborate
argument against a double standard and
a general review of our monetary leg
ation.
In the course of his speech Mr. Shafreth
[silverite. Col.) interrupted to ask if the
bill would not result in contracting the
currency to the extent of the $450,000,0v0
in silver Impounded.
"It would not," replied Mr. Overstreet,
'becau.se for e\cry silver dollar that goes
into the treasury a gold dollar will go out
■nto circulation.' (Republican applause.)
FIRST FOR OPPOSITION.
Mr. Maddox (Dem, Ga.) was the first
speaker in opposition to the bill. Refer
ring to former Speaker R eds New York
speech recommending the immediate en
actment of gold standard legislation be
fore some branch of the government got
away from the Republican party, he said:
"The faithful understand that thi.-s 1-g
--islation must be enacted at once or not
at all."
The enactment of gold standard legls'a
tton, hf» declared, had never been an is
sue before the people. If gold was now
the "existing standard," as contended, it
was so hy the unlawful usurpation of the
legislative officers of the government.
The treasury, under the bill, he predict
ed, would be raided. The bill would con
vert every obligation of the treasury into
a gold obligation, and would compel the
government to sell millions of gold to
amount of 2."> per cent of all the outstand
ing notes of whatever character. He ar
gued that under the bill banks with $1
000,000 capital, now required to deposit
bonds equal to a third of their capital in
the treasury, were required to deposl
only $50,000 in bonds, enabling them to
contract oi expand the currency at will
lip then ass-ailed Republican advocates of
the object of the gold standard for apes
tacy, and particularly attacked Messrs
Hepburn, Iowa; Dingley, Maine, am
Grosvenor, Ohio: who, he said, advocated
silver coinage by international agreemen
in 1897. Mr. Maddox summed up his argu
ment by declaring the measure to be a
bill designed to legalize the authorit>
usurped by the secretary of the treasury
to put the country' on a gold basis—to
demonetize one-half the final money of
redemption, to alter the obligations of
the people without their consent Into gok
obligation?, to contract the currency a
the will of the banks, and to create a gi
gantic bank trust for the benefit of a
lew thousand people.
MR. DOLLIVER'S ARGUMENT.
Mr. Dolliver (Io.), the next speaker
read from the speech of Gov. Altgeld to
the effect that the Republican congres
would obey orders and enact gold sand
ard legislation. For himself, he saia, he
was proud to say that he was obeying
orders—the orders of the people of hi
district—trying to put the laws of th
country into harmony Vith their opinions
The pending bill was a compromise, rep
resenting the united wisdom of all.
"There is something about the pursuit
of the science of money," paid he, "that
enables every one of its students to com
prehend his own ideas without being wry
hospitable to the ideas of others." (daugh
ter.) This was a bill to get at rest all doubt
as to the standard of this country. It
should be presented to the business mt-n
of the country as a Christmas gift. He
(Dolliver) did not want his record and
past follies to be brought up against
him. He had voted for the Sherman act
In ISJK), an act -vhich he now regarded
as a piece of unutterable stupidity, in
1893, when, the act came to be repealed)
Mr. Dolliver said he was very much per
plexed. He saw Sherman, one evening,
sitting outside his house, like Abraham
outside his tent. "Don't trouble your
self about the failure of your predic
tions regarding silver," paid the senator,
"every prophecy I made about !< has
turned out exactly the opposite." (L uigh
ter.)
"Just as yours will now," interjected
Mr. Cox (Term.), amid renewed laughter.
Continuing, Mr. Dolliver st:id He believ
ed that the result of the campaign In
1596 settled the silver issue. A proposition
which received a black eye in lowa and
Massachusetts at the same time, in his
He E -patil globe
opinion, had no future In the intellectual
life of the American people. In 1896 the
cry of Bryan, he said, was for more mon
ey. Money was scarce, It was hoarded.
The day after the election it came out
from its hiding.
"Are you willing now," interrupted Mr.
Sims (Term.), "that the mints should be
opened to silver if an international agree
ment could be obtained?"
"No, sir," replied Mr. Dolllver, "I have
had my last whirl with silver. I have
been humbugged for the last time."
Mr. Dolliver said that the cry had been
for more money. In three, years of Re
publican administration $400,000,000 had
been added to the volume of the cur
rency, more money than could have been
coined by the mints In ten years if the
mints had been opened to sliver.
"In other words," said he, "we have
done for you in three years more than
you have done for yourselves. Why
don't you get out of the road and let
the main procession move on?" (Laugh
ter and applause.)
Mr. Dolliver recalled Mr. Bryan" s
prophecy that the gold standard could
not be enacted without a universal 1 fall
of prices. "Is there a man in this cham
ber," he asked, "who will rise in his
place and gay that Mr. Bryan knew what
he was talking about?"
Not a Democrat arose. Mr. Dolliver
paused, reiterated his question and then
resumed. "It Is then confessed that in a
question which goes to the heart of the
controversy Mr. Bryan lacked wisdom."
He also called attention to Mr. Bryan's
prediction that wages would fall and
men would be thrown out of employment,
let at the end of three years of Repub
lican administration under the gold stand
ard there was not an industrious man in
ihe country without employment.
VERDICT OF PEOPLE.
Mr. De Armond (Mo.) followed In oppo
sition to the bill. Replying to Mr. Dol
liver he said the Democrats had not been
overborne in ISM! in the conflict of reu
eon, but the Republican party had won
by summoning to tlieir aid the corrupt
and tremendous power of money and
corporations. He charged the Republic
ans with deceiving- the people in 1896.
They were bimetallists then. If they were
honest then, they must be dishonest now;
if honest now, dishonest then. The
change of he bends from coin to gold
bonds, he said, would make a free gift
of $J00,000,000 to bondholders. The bill
would create a bank trust. He predicted
that this measure would overwhelmingly
defeat the Republican party in 1900.
When the peoplt's victory was won next
fall, said he in conclusion, it must not be
necessary to go the "vine-clad cottage"
at Canton, 0., to ofl'er congratulations,
but beyond the Mississippi to that mod
est home in Lincoln, Neb., where resid
ed that great and stanch friend of the
people. (Democratic applause.)
Mr. Greene (Perm.) then announced the
death of his colleague, the late Repre
sentative Ermentraut, of Pennsylvania,
and at 5:05, as a further mark of respect.
Ihou.se adjourned.
SYMPATHY FOR BOERS.
. Maaon Call* Ip Hlm Resolution
In the Senate.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—An appeal by
Mr. Mason for an expression of sympathy
with the South African republic in Us
war with Great Britain was the feature
of the session of the senate today. It
was the first formal address made in the
senate this session, and was the cause of
close attention by the senators and a
large gallery. By motion of Mr. Lodge
the resolution was referred to the com
mittee on foreign affairs, Mr. Lodge con
sidering it too delicate a question, in
view of the position of this government,
to be passed upon without serious discus,
sion.
Mr. Mason's remarks at times were ve
hement, almost passionate. He confined
himself during a greater part of the time
closely to his manuscript, speaking at
ttime with force and vigor. In opening
The war between monarchy and repub
mism began in earnest July 4, IT7G. and
treaty of peace has ever been conelud
and never will until the question i?
tied right. Monarchies, although often
quarreling among themselves, have al
ways agreed upon one thing—that a ie
public is a mistake."
After quoting extensively from Dai.lel
Webster's speeches in support of his con
tention, Mr. Mason continued:
"But we. are told that Engiand was our
friend in the war with Spain. How? Her
people were our friends, because her peo
ple are a Christian people; her govern
ment has never been our friend except
for purposes of its own. I have no desire
o twist the lion's tail, but truth corn
els the statement, so far as our interests
re concerned, for the last half centur>
he government of England and the peo
le of England have been divided.. Yoi
emember 1861? The government did al
t could to dissolve the Union, but the
rave, starving weavers refused to re
o'.ve against us. saying they would starvt
>efore they would say a. word for slavery
Jut even suppose she were to;lay our b:s
riend, are we to be silent and uphold a
rong in consideration of that friend
ship? We are charged with favoring a
ecret alliance with Great Bri'ain. This
annot be true, and the vote with which
iis resolution is received will demon
trate the falsity of that charge."
TO OPPOSE WHEELER.
Mr. Hnilfj-. of Texas, Will Heneir
tbe Old Kiu-ht.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11.—The opposi
ion to Gen. Wheelers taking his sea
as a member of the house of representa
tivos from Alabama is to bs renewed b>
Representative Bailey, of Texas, whos
resolutions last year brought out a re
port from the house judiciary cemmitte
that a military and congressional offk
could not be held at the same time. Gen
Wheeler is now !n the Philippines, but i
has been understood that he will-return
to take iys seat. The sergeant-at-arm
has over $2,000 to the credit of the Ala
bama member, covering salary from
March 4 last to date, but Gen. Wheeler
has not asked for the money.
Revenue Ruling ns to Beer.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11.—The commis
sioner of internal revenue has rendered
a decision in which he holds that persons
calling themselves agents of brewers in
selling original stamped packages of
beer, must show that the beer remains
absolutely the property of the brewers In
their hands until sold by them for and on
account of the brewers, and not on their
own account. Otherwise collectors are
to report them to the commissioner for
assessment of special taxes and penalties
as wholesale dealers in malt liquors.
New Mexico Seeks Statehood.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11.-The governor
of New Mexico, in his annual report, es
lmates the population of the territory at
260,500, and says this year's record will
exesed almost all former years in the
■pvenue derived from produce, sheep and
The report renews the plea for
statehood.
Aimed at tlie Trust*.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11.—Senator Mor
gan, of Alabama, has introduced a joint
■esolution to prohibit combinations be
tween corporations to control interstate
commerce and transportation.
Robert* Committee U<s<s.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 11.—The Roberts
investigating committee was not in ses
sion today, having adjourned until to
morrow, when Mr. Roberts will be heard
Antt-Scalping Bill in Senate.
WASHINGTON", Dec. 11.—Senator Gear
today reintrcrduced the ant,l-scalping bill
of last congress.
TUESDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 12, 1899.
OPEN THEIR EYES
MEMBERS OP THE CONFERENCE
COMMITTEE SURPRISED BY
COMPTROLLER MTAHDY
FIRST SUBMITS HIS BUDGET
FOLLOWS IT IP WITH A REMARK
ABLE AMD EXTRAORDINARY
I STATEMENT
INTS NONE OF NEW CHARTER
nts Ont One Way to Build Two
New School Houses—lm Bitter at
n Nnniber of Board of Education
Official*—A Budget That Will
Take a Good Deal of Editing: Be
fore It Get* Through the Council.
Comptroller McCardy, at the conference
committee yesterday, submitted his an
nual 1 budget, sh wing the needs of the
oily for next year in a financial way, but
it was not the fgures which startled the
memoers of the committee. The comp
troller had a new Ulna as to the solution
of the problem of school finances. He
stated that he was opposed to any new
churtei-. If the comptroller can get the
corporation attorney to stamp es legal
his scheme of raising money, or rather
transferring money from the general
fund to the support of the schools, there
will be nc need of a new charter. It is
evident from the position taken by the
officials who are connected with the pres
ent administration that every means pos
sible is to be taken to prevent a new
charter being drafted and adopted. If
the school financial question can be ar
ranged for In any way then the adminis
tration officiate think there will be little
Knee for a new charter to pass. Comp
ler McCardy, at the meeting of the
conference committee a year ago, had a
scheme for helping out the schools by
issuing bonds. The corporation attorney,
however, dectare it illegal. This year
Mr. McGardy has p. plan of
BEATING THE CHARTER
provisions by taking money from funds
other than that levied for the schools and
building two new school houses and re
pairing the old buildings. As to the le
gality of such expenditure under the char
ter the comptroller is not so clear, but
he naively says "no taxpayer would ob
ject, and surely the board of education
Buld not."'
he council, it is understood, will fol
low the ideas of the comptroller, each
of the members seeing in the plan a
possibility of having one of the new
buildings erected in his particular ward.
The conference committee will consider
the suggestion this afternoon.
The budget, as presented by the comp-
Iller, calls for $1,343,667 to be raised by
:ation, as against $1,383,180, which was
?d by the council for 1899. There is no
lbt but what these figures will be in
ased by the council, if not by the con
ence committee. No provision is made
the comptroller for the building in
:otor, and this reduces the budget be
,- last year's figures by $8,330.. The
mcll, which has the last guess on' the
Jget, will insert a provision for this
No provision is made for a judgment
fund, which in previous years has been
about $30,000. The comptroller says there
Is no need for any such fund this year,
the cases on the court calendar against
the city to the contrary. The lighting
fund estimate is placed at $145,327, but this
does not include any Interest on gas posts
and mains, which in the budget of 1899
was figured at $7,000, and no amount is
added for lighting public buildings, which
is about $2,000 per year. The engineering
department is $1,700 below the figures for
1899 and the board of public works" fund
$200, although a request will be made for
an additional $480 by the board. The gen
eral fund expenditures are increased JGS,
--000 over 1899 by the addition of $32,000 for
election expanses, an additional $10,000 for
garbage and $26,000 to make up losses to
the treasury by banks failing and the city
not pressing the bondsmen to make good.
MORE INCOME FIGURED.
The estimated income from the general
fund is increased over IS')9 $25,000 by the
comptroller, the expected increase to come
from ten more liquor licenses, $7,000 from
fines in the police court and $10,000 from
miscellaneous receipts, the major par
of which it is supposed the street raiiwa>
Impany will pay in next year. The dog
ense receipts, which were estimated a
000 in 1899, are placed at $2,000 for next
ar. It is always noticeable that in
years preceding a city election the various
departments are scaled down by the
comptroller to the very lowest figure in
the budget. Usually it follows that in the
next year"s budget there is always from
$10,000 to $20,000 to make up shortages, but
then there is no election and there is not
so much need of making a good showing.
But little business was transacted a
the meeting yt-sterday, nearly all the tim
being occupied by the comptroller, whos
suggestions ran all the way from a con
stitutional convention to the proper archi
tectural plan for building school houses
After ordering the printed copies of th
budget distributed, the comptroller com
menced by reading the following prepare
statement:
PREPARED STATEMENT.
In submitting the annual budget for
your consideration this year, there are
some matters to whirh your attention is
respectfully invited. The question of tax
ation is one which always presses itself
forward and demands very careful con
sideration. Our general laws on taxa
tion by a long series of years of amend
ing" and repealing have become a piece of
patchwork which needs redrafting, and It
is almost absolutely necessary that it be
done. The question of municipal govern
ment also, in a growing country like
ours, Is one in Avhich the municipal laws
do not keep abreast with the times. And
in the cities of Minnesota, conducting
their own affairs in their own way ana
no two alike, it would seem as 1 hough
the only way to remedy these matters Is
by a convention to redraft the state con
stitution incorporating therein the re
quired powers of home rule.
As a municipal corporation the city of
St. Paul is in good condition. At the
close of the fiscal year (Dec. 81) there
will be more money to the credit of the
operating departments than of any year
in its history, with no unpaid bills, no
overdrawn accounts and no floating debt.
Ninety thousand dollars of bonds came
due this year and have been paid. No
bonds weiv> issued during the year. It
will be noticed that there is nothing in
cluded iv the budget for the payment of
judgments, there being no judgments to
pay. The year's business has been so
conducted that nothing is needed for
credit of this account. This is a credit
mark for the legal department, well earn
ed. It is also the first time in the his
tory of the city for many years that a
budget was made with this account clos-
The recommendations made one year
ago that the duties of building inspector
be placed upon the engineering depart
ment is respectfully renewed. It will
also be observed that there is $26,000 in
cluded In this estimate to cover losses in
suspended banks. Th© money thus lost
belongs to the several accounts In the
treasury which must be made good in
ane of two ways. vi*.: Either charge the
accounts their proportion or make It up
In the estimate. The latter Is preferred,
as the amounts now to the credit of the
accounts are all needed and any amount
charged now would make a shortage lor
those accounts later on. We are in such
financial condition that the amount lost
need not be made up all at once. There
fore, It is proposed to make it up in three
years, charging a certain amount each
ATTACKS THE SCHOOLS.
Following the reading of this statement,
which was typewritten, the comptroller,
with considerable showing of feeling,
said:
"Some matters have been brought to
the attention of the people recently that
I want to resent. It has come from the
employes of the school department, and
1 think it unwise to make charges which
cannot be substantiated. The superin
tendent of schools has stated that the
general fund had been used for purposes
wholly unauthorized by the charter. This
statement is not "true. The gentleman
is monkeying with one of the command
ments which says 'Thou shalt not bear
false witness against thy neighbor.' An
other employe of the board, who has
been in the city about five months, and
If placed at the corner of Fourth and
Wabasha streets could probably not tell
which direction was north, says the
trouble with the finances is being made
by enemies of the public schools among
the city officials, and that it is simply a
plan on the part of certain rich taxpayers
to dodge taxes. In reply to this I would
say there are no enemies of the public
schools among city officials, and, so far
as I am aware, there is no attempt being
made by rich taxpayers to dodge taxes.
Another employe places marked copies of
a morning paper before the teachers.
Articles that have been published for po
litical purposes only. These gentlemen
are diverting the attention of the teachers
to matters that conflict with their duties,
and they should not take the lead in s?o
advising and misleading their subordi
nates, and as a member of this commit
tee and a city official 1 desire to enter my
protests against such actions.
OPPOSES A NEW CHARTER.
"I am in doubt as to the successful out
come of a new charter. I am not satis
fied we want to adopt a charter on the
lines laid out for us. The only remedy is
by a state constitutional convention,
which can make the necessary changes.
The fact is the new charter commission
was appointed for the purpose of securing
money for the schools. We are getting
along very well at present. Our credit is
good and hundreds of applications have
been made for the tax levy certificates
of indebtedness, which will be Issued In
January. All outside applications "are re
jected, as there have been sufficient ap
plications from local i>eople to take all
the certificates issued. If this charter
commission was appointed to secure
money for the schools, and this cannot be
done, owing to a defect in the enabling
act, what are we going to do? 1 will an
swer this. I propose the city council shall
build two new school houses next year
That the council take hold of and repair
the school buildings. The buiidings are
not the property of the school board, but
of the city, the same as the fire depart
ment engine houses and the city hall
Ihe new buildings should be tliree stories
high. The one mistake made in the past
was in building Iwo-story school build
ings.
HERE IS HIS SECRET.
"You ask how fa thf£ to-be accomplish
ed. I will tell you. We have fen insur
ance fund, started some years ago when
the city went out of the business of Insur
ing its school .buildings. That fund now
has to its credit. $30,000. When the fund
was created it was authorized and under
stood that when there was +25,000 to the
credit of the fund, the council could take
$20,000 and build a school building We
have now $30,000 in the fund. We have
1100,000 In bonds coming due next year
They are due Dec. 15, li-00, and the budget
which I submitted to you today provides
for their payment. If the conference
committee and the council agrees with
me we will take $50,00,} for the payment of
tne bonds and placef the amount to tlw»
Idit of the bond account. Then take
other $50,000 and fHit up a new school
lding for afrd with the remain
s3o,ooo repair school buildings which
:d repairing. The.: bonds will not be
! until Dec. 15, 1900,. and probably will
be presented for 1 payment before Jan.
901. There are no bnnds coming due in
, and the $50,000 due late in December,
>, can be taken care of if presented
payment, and If hot can be included
the estimate for 1&01.
DAN INCREASE THE PAY ROI/L.
If we cannot have a new charter whi h
1 allow more funds for the schools,
can erect two ne* school buildings,
repair others and keep our hands off the
school fund. This will give the school
board a chance to use the fund for the
maintenance of the schools, and keep
them open six or eight months or the
whole year. It might appear at first
thought as though niy propo.^iti hi was a
diverting of the school fund, but we can
take money from the general fund for
the repair of city buildings, and the
school houses are certainly the same as
other buildings owtiefl by the city."
Aid. Sanborn interrupted the comptrol
ler with a query as tjo whether the lim
itations of the charter were not such as
to interfere with his scheme.
"We came to the conclusion last year."'
said Aid. Sanborn, "that we could taKe
no money from the general fund for the
reason that the chaFter expressly says
the levy in any one : year shall not exceed
2 1;; mills for all school purposes."
DODGED THE QrESTrOX.
Without directly replying to this ques
tion, comptroller McC&rdy said:
"Here is the point. : The taxpayer will
not object, and neither, do I think, will
the school board. It seems to me we
have the ways and means to put up two
school buildings next year, and we should
avail ourselves of the chance. It may
be interesting to know," continued the
watch-dog of the treasury, "that only 75
per cent of the money raised for the sal
aries of teachers is paid to teachers in the
graded schools. It would be right for this
board or the councilitto appoint a com
mittee to go through the various depart
ments and see If there are too many or
too few employes. This was done five
years ago, and nothing could be lost by
having a committee) do this work over
At the conclusion. .'of the comptroller's
remarks City Englnfeer Claussen bmuarht
before the committed the question of a
municipal electric lighting plant.
CITY'S OWN PLANT.
Mr. Claussen paid lie had figured it out
that if the a*ty would do Us own street
lighting a saving of $60,0C0 per year
could be made. This amount was based
on recel/ing the same amount of light
as in 1898, and on the prices for street
lighting for next yetr. He had figured in
his estimate on gas1 lamps of ei&hteen
crndle power, and gasoline lamps of
fourteen-candle pow.-r, and of substitut
ing arc lights for both gas and gasoline.
With an overhead pple system, such as
now lit u.^e, the plant and system com
plete would cost jSaip.OW. With orna
mental polos and 'rnj the center of tho
city ten miles of underground conduits
the cost of the plan|fand system would
Comptroller McCk^jy suggested that
the saving of $GO,OOO «per > ear would pay
for the plant in five years.
Mayor Klefer lod&ed steadily at the city
Continued on Seventh Page.
ffl TO PRETORIA
PROBABLE FATE OF THE SIX HUN
DRED BRITONS CAPTIRED
AT SWORMBERG
KWffl TO BE PRISONERS
BOERS ANNOUNCE THAT THEY CAP
TIRED SIX 111 MMil-: 1) AND
SEVENTY MEN
DEFEAT IS HUMILIATING
Pabllc Opinion In London Snp
preNmed but Keen—Will Avrnlt
<»en. (ia(ncrt'> Report of His
OiiNhliiK Reverse—News Received
In Part* and Berlin \\ tth Con
siderable Wonderment,
PRETORIA, Dec. 11.— Six hundred and
seventy-two British prisoners were taken
at Stormberg.
In the fighting at Modder river yester
day evening Gen. Cronje maintained his
position and captured fifty British sol
diers.
LONDON, Dec. 12.—N0 further news
has been received to smooth the mystery
overhanging Gen. Gatacre's retreat from
Stormberg. He has not yet forwarded
the promised additional message, and ".he
censorship has prevented the correspond
ents from explaining the matter. While
it ?s generally admitted that Gen. Gat
acre is inclined to overwork. Gen. Dur
ham's remarks are considered as in rath
er bad taste. Until Gen. Gatacre has
given his explanation, it is felt that con
siderable allowance must be made tor the
extreme difficulty of getting Intelligence
in a country whose inhabitants are in
slrong sympathy with the enemy.
Stromberg is described as a stronger
position than Laing's Nek. The only
road winds through lofty hills, and flank
ing is impossible. Colesburg is also said
« •
L.IEIT. GEX. SIR WILLIAM GATACRE.
British Forces Under His Command Defeated With Great Slaughter at Storm
berg. Cap c Colony.
| to be an almost impregnable position;,
and as no troops are avai'able to reinforce
the columns acting in those directions,
it becomes evident that Gen. Gatacre's
misfortune, or error, will d^lay the in
vasion of the Free State perhaps some
weeks. It is exceedingly probable that he
wouid be compelled to retire on Queens
ton and to wait tor reinforcements, which
can hardly reach him until -Sir Charles
Warren's division arrives at the ("ape.
The first detachments will sail Saturday
| next. Even if Gen. French is not coin
i pelled to retreat, he will be obliged to
I pause In his advance.
It now seems certain that the Seventh
division, which is being mobilized at Al
dershot, will also be sent to South Africa.
No news has as yet been received con
firming the Boer disposal of the tifty
prisoners at Modder river from Lord Me
thuen's column.
HEAVY LOSSES.
It is just two months since the Trans
vaal proclamation was delivered. Nine ei
gagements have been fought, and The
British have lost 566 killed, 2,027 wounded
and 1,977 missing or prisoners.
The war office has issued a note th^t
after Jan. 1 a deduction will be made
from the pay of soldiers serving in South
Africa, in the case of privates, 4 pence
per day for wives and a penny for each
child; in the case of sergeants, S pence
for wives and 2 pence for each child.
These sums have been paid thus far by
the government. The order indicates a
belief that the campaign will be a long
one.
It is announced from Cape Town thit
the Boers have succeeded in repairing the
Leuwfonteln t#idge, near Stormberg and
Burghersdorp, which the Birtsh dt-s roy
ed on retiring.
Commandant Swanpol, who commanded
the Boer forces at Stormberg, has been
replaced by a Scotchman named R bert
son.
HUMILIATING DEFEAT.
Later details regarding the disaster to
Gen. Gatacre's column show that but for
the magnificent work of the British artil
lery the disaster would have been far
more extensive, as the Incessant Boer
shell fire in the midst of the repulsed In
fantry ultimately led to disorder which
only escaped developing into a rout
through 1 the batteries of artillery occupy
ing successive positions covering the re
treat, thus drawing a portion of the
Boers' galling fire.
Apparently the British were set an
Impossible task and were treacherously
guided. After a trying march, being un-
PRICE TWO CENTS-Jgf v^-C ' £ . TS .
BULLETIN OF
IMPORTANT NEWS OF THE DAY
Weather Forecast for St. Paul:
Fair.
I—Doings In < ongre««.
Effect of Gatacre'at Defeat.
(oiiiiitroller Mct'ardy'it Surprise.
Seven Persons Drowned.
2—Plans for the Census.
To Promote Winter Sports.
Boers Have Sympathizers.
3—Minneapolis Matters*
Menage a Free Man.
Northwest News.
Still < basing; Agnlnnldo a
4—Ktlltorlal.
Van's Washington (»o»«!p.
Collins Pressed to Itim.
6—Sporting News.
Local Baseball Situation.
Associated Wheelmen Banquet.
6—Markets of the World.
Chicago Dee. Wheat, 05 l-2c.
Bar Silver, 59 I-2c.
Stocks Panicky.
7—News of Railroads.
B—Blixt Wants h Pardon.
Local Labor Column.
OCEAN LINERS.
NEW YORK—Arrived: Steamer Am
sterdam, Rotterdam.
BRISBANE—Arrived: Miowera, Van
couver, etc.
KIAU CHAU—Arrived: Guernsey, Port
land, via Muroan.
NAGASAKI—SaiIed: Arab. Portland, Or.
GIBRALTAR—Arrived: Ems, New York,
and proceeded for Naples and Genoa.
TODAY IN ST. PALL.
METROPOLITAN—"The Royal Box,"
8:15 p. m.
GRAND—"The City of New York," 8:15
p. m.
Palm Garden—Vaudeville. 2 and 8 p. m.
Olympic Theater—Vaudeville, 2 and 8
p. m. - . ,
Annual election. Commercial club, 32
noon to 7 p. m.
Retail grocers meet, 411 Robert street,
noon.
Grocers' clerks meet, 411 Robert street
8 p. m.
Annual meeting Woman's Chrustian
home. North street, 3 v. m.
Master barbers meet. 245 East Seventh
street, 8 p. m.
Petschnlkoff concert. People's church, S
p. m.
Camera club meets, 48 East Fourth street
8 p. m.
der arms sixteen hours, they attacked
the wrong Dart of the Boer position,
where the hill was impregnable, and the
burghers weitj estimated to number 6.0C0
men, instead of 2,500, as the spies had re
ported.
There is little in the story to mitigate
the intense humiliation occasioned by the
episode, which was almost an exact coun
terpart of the battle of Nicholson's Nek.
The war office was besieged with anxious
relatives, and the successive editions of
the newspapers were eagerly scannd. Men
and women were equally persistent in
pleading for information, but the au
thorities either do not possess any or
else are not prepared to publish it at
present.
The affair has caused the most depress
ing influence everywhere, not excepting
the stock exchange, where cpnsols were
at the lowest price in many years, and
South African securities? slumped, not so
much on account of the military reverse,
which is retrievable, but owing to the
profound apprehension as to its political
effect. No great surprise would now be
felt if Gen. Gatacre's reverse resulted in
Cape Colony becoming aflame from end to
end.
The afternoon newspapers, like the
morning papers, withhold the apportion
ment of blame until they are further ac
quainted with the causes, and take the
reverse philosophically. The Pall Mall
Gazette remarks:
"The country's calm will again surprise
the continent. If the blow is more seri
ous than it appears, neither the crown
nor the ministry will be in danger of
even a single seditious, vilifying howl in
the street. We have confidence in those
who are fighting for us and in their di
rectors."
BOERS TOOK THREE GUNS.
PRETORIA (via Lourenzo Marques) —
The Boers captured three British guns in
tht> engagement with Gen. Gatacre's force
at Stormberg.
The sortie at Kimberley last Saturday
was an attempt to take the Boer position
at Kamperdam. and to secure the water
works. All the British shots fell short.
Details are expected from the Boer out
posts in the direction of Modder rlv«»r.
Thero is a report that the British art
advancing on the place, and heavy fight
ing is anticipated. Gen. Prins Loo and
Gen. Cronje command the Boer forces.
BOERS INTERCEPT DISPATCHES.
LOT'RENZO MARQUES, Dec. 11 —The
following dispatch has been received from
the Boer laager, near Ladysmith:
"Several Kaffir runners from Ladysmith
to Estcourt have been captured. They re
ceived from £15 to £40 for the trip. The
Intercepted dispatches show that men and
horses in Ladysmith are now «n half ra-
Continued on Tnlrd Poise.
SEVEN LIVES LOST
SKATING SEASON OPEXS IN MINNE
SOTA WITH A NUMBER OP
DROWNIXGS
DEATH TOOK THEM IS PAIRS
TWO YOIXG MEN SINK IX A LAKQ
NEAR MORA, MINNE
SOTA
NORTHFIEID HAS TWO VICTIMS
A Man Living; a Few Miles From
Minneapolis Loses His Tivn Little
Bo>.— H.- Had but a Few Month*
Before Left the City for a Home
In the Country—One Life Was
MORA, Minn., Dec. 11.—(Special.)
A double drowning- accident oc
curred here yesterday afternoon
when August Henaen and Henry
Heiser, two young men of this place,
lost their lives in Lewis lake. Henaen
attempted to ircsa the lake on the Ice,
which gave way. While he was strug
gling in the water Heiser went to hip as
sistance and lost his life in attempting
to save his companion. Both were un
man ied and came here from near Gl«?n
--coe. The bodies were recovered.
• TWO BOY 3 DROWN.
MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 11.—(Special. )—
William and Edward Cunniss, brothers,
aged sixteen and fourteen, are the first
victims of the skating season. Both boys
were drowned Sunday afternoon while
attempting to skate at Lake Genezerath,
adjoining their father's farm, one-half a
mile beyond Golden Valley. Sunday the
lake was covered with a thin coating of
ice, scarcely able to bear a muskrat's
weight a few rods from shore. Thinking
the ice strong enough to hold them
though the boys went down to the shore
and putting on their skates started out
together. A few rods from the shore the
ice cracked and gave way and both boys
Sk from sight. Their screams for help
-c heard and an attempt was made
rescue them, but it was too late, and
"when tha rescuers reached the spot
Sere the boy* had been seen when they
earned there was no trace to be found
the bodies. Luke Cunniss, father of
the drowned boys, formerly resided in
Minneapolis, when* both boys were born.
Some months ago he purchased a forty
acre farm at Lake Genezerath and moved
on to the farm with his family. Coroner
Nelson Was notified yesterday and viewed
the bodies, but after learning the cir
cumstances bedded that no further in
quiry would be necessary. The funeral"
will probably be held Thursday. The Iri-
Kment will be at St. Marys cemetery,
Minneapolis.
ANOTHER AT NORTHFIKLP.
:ORTHFIKLD, Minn.. Dec. JK—(Spe
cial.) —A sad drowning occurred at this
place about 5 o'clock today. Mark Cham
berlain and Drew Stevens, b'.th mem
bers of the high school of Northfleld,
»re skating on the Cannon river, which
sses through Ihls place Mark Chnm
beilain skated under the south bridge,
where the ice was thin. He suddenly
Kko through and h:s friend, Drew
yens, seeing his danger qu cfciy came
his assistance. His help was unavail
, how-over, and they were b rth soon
drowned, other assistance bVing too late.
Tho search for the bodies lasted utmost
an hour before they were recovered.
Resuscitation was unavailing In lx>th
cases. Mark Chamberlain, aged eighteen,
has parents living near the city, while
the parents of Drew Stevens, aged
fifteen, are residents of Northfleld.
The accident is a great shock to thtir
parents and the community.
ONE DROWNED. ONE SAVED.
LITTLE FALLS. Minn.. Dec. 11.-(Spe
cial.)—Two boys, aged nine years, sona
of E. Como and Levi King, fell
through the ice while skating tonight.
Young King was saved, but Como could
not b<? reached in time. This makes the
fifth child lost in the Como family in the
last eight months.
HIGH RATES FOR MONEY.
Great Demand for < ash at lllub Fig
ure* for \ ceo in inoiiii t ion s.
NEW YORK Dec. 11.—There was great
demand for money today. 15 per cent rul
ing for some early transactions. A large
bank which has made many loans marked
I those outstanding to 10 per cent, and
rutinized closely the collateral <fft>red
r new transactions at higher rates. One
all street bank required from 15 to 25
per cent. Fifteen or 20 per cent of good
industrials were accepted on this basis,
where Ihe borrower's name was satisfac
tory. In all from $33,000,000 to jsn.OOO.OOC
was called and paid off. then $2,000,000 or
$3,000,000 loaned at 6sj7 per cent: large
supplies then loaned down to 3 per cent.
Sterling exchange advanced l\ per cent
r demand bills.
While bankers were puzzled over the
oney situation here and abroad, the pre
ction was made that demand bills would
le higher throughout the week, with no
ospect, however, of touching the ex
porting point. One of the largi ?1 foreign
Change houses reported today's rate as
lly 2 rents below the figure at which
old under present circumstances could
>c profitably sent abroad.
POWDER EXPLOSION.
'vro Men Seriously nnd One Other
I'erlinp.s Fatally Injnre«l.
CAMBRIDGE, 0., Dec. 11.—A terrific
explosion of powder occurred in Klnt's
mine, eight miles east of here, today,
while four kegs of blasting powder were
being taken into the mine. Charles
Touvles, the motorman, and Jed Cressley
were dangerously injured, while Charles
Atkinson had his skull fractured and will
die The other two may recover. The
cause of the explosion is unknown.
MOLDERS' STRIKE TO END.
Men Will Iteturn to Work VenilliiK a
Settlement of Difference*.
RACINE, Wis., Dec. 11.—Three hundred
and fifty of the 700 striking molders in
the different foundries of the city have
decided to return to work tomorrow,
pending a settlement of the existing diffi
culties. The strike resulted because of
the failure of the Foundrymen's associa
tion to recognize the union.