THE MOKSmSTG- OBEGrOSIAST, ESDAX, EEBBTTABT" 22. 1895.
CERTIFICATE OF OFFICIAL EXAMINATION BY FOUR STATES' INSURANCE DEPARTMENTS,
Tutual Reserve fupd Ofe Assoeiatio
OF NEW YORK CIT
x-. v
.'RB. HARPER, - - - -President.;
G0VISSI0J1ES' CERTIFICATE
W
NEW YORK CITY, January 24th, 1895.
E, the Insurance Commissioners and Superintendents of the States of Illinois. Ohio, Texas, and South Dakota, do hereby certify that -we have been
for the last two months engaged in an exhaustive and thorough examination of the books and accounts of the Jflutual Heser-se Fund Iiife Association
and of all receipts and disbursements durina the neriod extending from the first dav of "January. 1894, to the 13th day of November, 1894. We
further certify that we have carefully ckecked and proved all items; that the loans on bond and mortgage have been checked and verified; that stocks and
bonds have been accounted for through receipts held for deposits; that cash on hand has been counted, and that cash deposited with sundry banks has
been proved by the books of said banks or by proper certificates therefrom; that the real estate has been valued upon the basis of net rentals and from in-'
formation derived from reliable sources, and that the operations of the Association have been subjected to a thorough examination in which every facility
has been afforded us by the officers and managers, every book, record and source of information having been laid open to us cuitbout reservation.
We further certify that we find the Association possessed of admitted invested and non-invested assets on the said November 13, 1894, to the
amount of $4.228s120.93, and of contingent mortuary assets to the amount of $1,340,490.31, making gross assets as of said date to the amount of
$5,568,611.24; that against said assets we have charged actual liabilities to the amount of $673,767.84 (including bonds, but not bond statements), and
contingent mortuary liabilities to the amount of $1,175,041.32, making the surplus of the Association, on basis of gross invested and non-invested assets,
$3;552,353.09, and on basis of gross assets (contingent mortuary assets and liabilities being included), $3,717,802.08.
We further certify that we have verified by a eompeient expert the value of the Association's interest in the building known as the Mutual Reserve
Building, and that we are satisfied that its value is largeiyn excess of the amount at which it stands upon the Association's books. We further certify that
we have made a very careful examination of the death claims paid by the Association during the period covered by this examination, and that we are of
the opinion that the Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association pays its death claims honorably and promptly, and that it does not in any ease wilfully attempt
to resist payment of any honest death claim that is made upon it; and that the work of the death-claim department is handled with all possible dispatch
and in such a way that the most critical can have no just cause or reasonable ground of complaint. While under the operation of the fundamental principle
of the Association, which calls for the collection after death of the sum required to pay a claim, there may be some seeming delay, payment is just as sure
as with any other company or association, which fact is fully established by our examination. We further certify that we have made a personal examina
tion of the methods of the Medical Department, and feel warranted in saying that the utmost care is exercised in the selection of risks, and that in this re
spect the Association will compare favorably with any other life insurance company or association. The financial statement furnishes abundant proof of
the healthy and prosperous condition of the Association, and the gradually increasing assets show prudence and economy. The management, the publie,
and the members are to be oaarmly congratulated upon the solidity and security of the Association.
MUTUAL RESERVE FUND UFE ASSQCIAT10H
XITCtJAI, RESERVE BCU.DI3 G
3E 387, 389 Broads, Gornar Daans St, fira York Ci!j
EXTRACTS FROa ANNUL REPORT, DEC. 31, 1894
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have
hereunto subscribed our
respective names, in the
city of New York, the day
and year above written.
seal J
Insurance Superintendent, Stale of Illinois, Chairman.
?I
4S2.&LJt
r
Superintendent of Insurance, State of Ohio.
Insurance Commissioner and Examiner, State of Texas.
Examiner, Slate of SoutJi Dakota.
RESERVE FUND.
We have increased our Reserve or Sur
plus Emergency Fund during the past
twelve months from 53.5S9.323 13 to 53.S27.
625 12. making a net gala for the year of
$23S,30S99.
INCOME.
Our income from all sources during tha
year ISM amounted to $4,943,739 59, as
against 54.49S.S15 for 1S93, making a net
increase of $111,924 59.
DEATH CLAIMS.
'At the end of the year 1S93 we had'dis
toursed to the widows and orphans and
representatives of our deceased members
the sum of $17.6S4,333 S6. For the same
purpose during the year 1S94 we have paid
out the largest sum in the history of our
institution, viz.: $3,070,514 01, making in. all
in the fourteen years of our existence'the
magnificent total of $20,754,S47 S7.
BUSINESS IX FORCE.
Our books show that on December 31,
1S94, we had in force S6.067 policies, cov
ering insurance amounting to $293,366,106,
being a net Increase for the year of 13,351
policies, amounting to 530,759,041, while the
applications for
SEW BUSINESS
received during the year amounted to $S1.
365,145, which does not include one dollar's
worth of business received since Decem
ber 31, 1S91.
The eloquence of these results can. per
haps, be best illustrated by the following
statement, showing the
FROGRESS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Insurants Cash actl
Year In Ff m Iarestrf tatte
1SS1 $ 7,633,000 $ 6.024 S3
1SS2 35.190.730 50.444 53
1SS3 63.323.500 169.946 21
1SS4 S3.452.0QD 350.775 05
1SS5 123.353.50J 639.879 41
18S6 150.175.250 9S9.240 IS
1SS7 156,554.100 1.472,200 11
1SSS 16S.902.S50 1.953,753 81
1SS9 1S1.35S.20O 2.512.5SS 96
1S90 197,003.435 2.930.178 90
1S91 215.207,910 3.3SJ.437 65
1S92 236,421,790 3.690.592 7G
1S93 262,607.063 3.93S.941 13
1891...... 293,366,103 4.216,143 90
Reserve or Death Claims
Tear Emerjcn-j FunJ Paid
1SS1
1SS2 $ 11,906 03 $ 34,2.-0 00
1SS3 143,762 60 333,673 00
1SS1 271.440 03 815,575 00
1S85 499,333 91 1,634,250 00
1SS6 S56.2S6 46 2.S03.390 00
1SS7 1,305.091 27 4,182,071 23
1SSS 1.796.67S 19 5.764.403 45
1SS9 2,304,503 33 7,600.434 71
1890 2,772,283 SO 9,746,932 79
1891 3,155,220 94- 12.037.0J1 59
1892 3,371,303 59 14,739,373 63
1S93 3.5S9.326 13 17.6S4.333 SS
1894 3,827,635 12 20,731,817 87
NOTICE. Professional and business
men possessing pluck, grit and energy,
who will devote the whole or even a part
of their time, can secure excellent paying
positions in the Agency Department in
each town, county, city and state; also
in Great Britain and Europe.
Address or cnll upon the General
Agent or Manngcr of your State, or
address Agency Department, Mutual
Reservo Fund Life Association, 3In
tnnl Reserve Building', Broadway
and Daane street, New York.
E. B. HARPER, President.
wmmrmmk
JTHE APPOINTMENTS MADE BY THE
GOVERNOR.
Death Near Salem of Alexander
Spong, Who "Wan Forty Years a
Resident of Marion County.
SALEM, Feb. 21. Governor Lord made
the following appointments today:
Regents of the state agricultural col
lege W. E. Yates, of Corvallls; H. B.
Miller, of Grant's Pass; Benton Killin, of
Portland. Regents of the state university
A. Bush, of Salem; S. P. Sturgiss, of
Pendleton; S. H. Friendly, of Eugene. Re
gents of Monmouth normal school Ben
jamin Schofield, A. Noltner and O. F. Pax
ton, of Portland. Regent Weston state
normal school W. G. Lyon, of Helix.
Brigadier-general Oregon National Guard
Charles F. Beebe, of Portland. Trustees
Oregon Soldiers Home S. B. Ormsby, of
Argenti; B. F. Alley, of Florence; "Will
iam Galloway, of McMinnvIlle; John P.
Robertson, of Salem; Henry Rust, of Ba
ker City.
Alexander Spong, a resident of Marion
county for 40 years, died at his farm home
north of Salem Wednesday evening. He
was 77 years old. He came to Oregon in
1831, locating at Oregon City for a short
time; thence moving to Lafayette, Yamhill
county, where he lived for two years, and
then came to this county. He was pro
prletorof Spong's ferry, connecting Marion
and Polk counties at Lincoln. One of his
sons Is Captain A. J. Spong, master of the
steamer Ramona, between Oregon City
nd Portland.
THE ASHLAND MINE.
Joseph. Dame Has Been Placed in
ClinrKV oj Receiver.
ASHLAND. Or., Feb. 2L On an order
Issued by Judge Hanna, Joseph Dame
was yesterday placed in charge as re
ceiver of the Ashland mine. This action
followed the instituting of suit by 3S
claimants for wages and material, aggre
gating $9000. against P. B. Sinnot and
Penumbra Kelly, owners of the mine. The
other claims against the mine,, not cov
ered by lien or tuit. will make "the total
indebtedness aggregate over $15,000. The
Ashland Is the most important quartz
proposition in Southern Oregon, if not in
the state. It has been developed to a
depth of GOO feet, and Is acknowledged to
be in a more promising condition than It
ever has been before. It is estimated that
about $100,000 in gold has already been
taken from it, but the heavy expenses for
machinery and development tunnels and
work have used most of it up and run
the mine In debt besides, until creditors
became dissatisfied with the way it was
being conducted and pressed their claims
with the foregoing result. The receiver
has been Instructed to make a careful
examination of the property and continue
the work of getting out ore and milling
it, if deemed advisable. Reports will be
male regularly to the court, the Qrst re
port to be made March 4. -A large amount
tf valuable ore Is in sight, and the mine
Is In splendid shape to be worked. The
owners have confidence In the property,
as have all who are acquainted with lit.
and offers to buy It have been made by
several persons lately, but the property
has been held at a higher figure than
offered.
COURT AT BAKER CITY.
Grand Jury Reprimanded for Not
Making Gambling Indictment.
BAKER CITY, Or., Feb. 2L-Circult
court adjourned yesterday. Judge Fee
continued a good many cases, to be tried
le'or the new Judge. Among them is
the case of the state vs. Frank Shlnn,
charged with mayhem. It went over on
motion of the district attorney, who stat
ed that one Mr. Cartwnght, an Important
witness for the defense, had secreted
t'mse'f and could not be found. Judge
Fe sert a bench-warrant after the wlt
r rss, I t the officers failed to get servic
It Is whispered around that there Is very
e likelihood of the case ever, coming
to trial.
During the trial of the state vs. J. D.
Hart, an ex-convict of the Idaho peniten
tiary, who is now convicted of being the
ringleader In the Warshauer hotel hold
up, there was so much testimony given to
show that gambling was, and is now, car
ried on here In a bold and disgraceful
manner, that Judge Fee severely repri
manded the grand jury for not finding
more indictments than it did. There
was certainly room for more.
One Simpson, whose true name is un
known, and who has been a prominent
witness for the state during this term
of court, was sentenced to one year In
the penitentiary. Simpson is an ex-convict
of the Montana penitentiary. One
night last fall he knocked a man down
on Main street in this city, and relieved
him of $160. Subsequently he pleaded
guilty to the charge and turned state's
evidence against the other prisoners in the
jail in order that he himself might receive
leniency. As a consequence, he appeared
as a witness in nearly every criminal
case, with a peculiar story, of very little
importance to the state, and much less
believed by the jury.
Tho merchants fair is now in progress
and is an immense success.
FROM ALASKA.
A Rope Tramway to Be Bnilt Over
the Chilknt Fuss.
SEATTLE. Feb. 21. The latest mail ad
vices from Alaska are as follows:
P. Peterson, J. T. Field and Robert
Wright are about to build a rope tram
way from the head of Dyer inlet over
the Chilkat pass, to transport miners'
outfits to the head waters of the Yukon.
The safe of Winn brothers saloon, at
Juneau, was robbed of $150, used in the
faro game, January 7.
Adam, an Indian, was crushed to death
by a snowsllde near Juneau February 6.
August and $3500 from the Ebner mill in
of whites and natives on Douglas island
for selling liquor to Indians, and in one
raid seized many gallons of whisky, stored
under the house of one Moody.
N. H. Gaddls has been acquitted of the
charge of stealing $1000 .worth of amal
gam from Thorp & Bonnlfield's mill last
August and $3000 from the Ebner mill In
October and November last.
The Alaska-Mexican Gold Mining Com
pany Intends adding CO stamps to Its mill
on Douglas island. Between $3000 and
$4000 In gold has been taken by sluicing
from Gold and Lemon creeks in the last
two months.
VERY MILD WEATHER.
Fruitgrowers in Wasco a Little Ap
prehensive. THE DALLES, Feb. 2L A heavy rain
visited this section last night, making the
roads very muddy. The weather has been
unusually soft and mild and the fruit
growers are a little apprehensive lest the
buds may start and suffer from a subse
quent cold spell. A large number of or
chards will, bear for the first time this
year, and unless a frost damages the trees
the fruit crop this year will be very large.
A masquerade ball will be given on
Washington's birthday at the Baldwin
opera-house by the Order of Woodmen.
The Workmen had originally intended to
join with them, but the death of Mr. L.
Neuman. who was a prominent member
of that order, Tuesday, made it necessary
for them to withdraw.
OTHER NORTHWEST NEWS.
A Charge Against Pickett.
GOLDENDALE, Wash., Feb. 2L Frank
Pickett, a young man. is in the Klickitat
county jail. Mrs. H. M. Goddar. a teacher
of the Goldendale public school, caused
his arrest. It is alleged he circulated ob
scene cards among her scholars. The
penalty for the offense in this state is
three years in the penitentiary.
Said His Account "Were Short.
TACOMA. Feb. 2L The president of the
Stevedores' & Riggers Union this even
ing swore out a warrant in the municipal
court for the arrest of Thomas Penlory.
treasurer of the union, who is alleged to
bs- C14S shcrt in ha accounts. Pentory
-sailed today on the wheat ship Lydgate,
bound for Great Britain. The Port Town
send police have been requested to board
the ship there tonight and take him off, if
possible. He left a note stating his ac
counts were short and that he would pay
up later, if he could.
Counterfeiter's Outfit Captured.
WALLA WALLA, Feb. 21. Sheriff El
llngsworth and Police Officer Johnson
scored another success today in the dis
covery of dies and other paraphernalia of
counterfeiters, who have been operating
in this city. The outfit was found in the
cellar of an old building occupied and
run by W. H. Greenwood as a lodging
hcuse. Greenwood and an accomplice
were arrested this afternoon and lodged
in jail. Greenwood was intoxicated and
had $17 23 in counterfeit pieces on his
person when arrested. He has lived in
this city for several years.
Smith, a youth of 19, and a member of
a highly-respected family here, was ar
rested and put In jail for breaking Into
the house of L. F. Anderson. He se
cured property valued at $200.
An "Unconfirmed Rumor.
ASTORIA, Feb. 21. An unconfirmed ru
mor comes from Hwaco that Jacob Kamm
contemplates disposing of his stock In the
Oregon Railway & Navigation Company.
The reason alleged is the supposed inten
tion on the part of tho Oregon Railway &
Navigation Company to parallel Its line
from Hwaco to Tinker's, at which point
the Oregon Railway & Navigation offi
cials, on the occasion of their recent visit
to Hwaco, professed to have found what
they desired as a suitable location for a
hotel.
Stricken With Paralysis.
ALBANY, Or., Feb. 21. Robert Knox,
traveling salesman for Mills & Glbb, of
New York, was stricken with paralysis
here this evening. His recovery is doubt
ful. His family resides In San Francisco.
Movements of Ocean Vessels.
NEW YORK, Feb. 2L Arrived Kaiser
Wilhelm II., from Genoa; Lahn, from
Bremen and Southampton; Island, from
Copenhagen, etc. Arrived out Kron
Prinz Friedrich Wilhelm, at Gibraltar;
Fuerst Bism&rch, at Alexandria; Assyrian
and Peruvian, at Glasgow; Cufie and
Roman, at Liverpool; New York, at
Southampton. Sailed for New York
Werra, from Genoa; Ems, from Southamp
ton. Sighted Patria, from New Yo-k
for Hamburg, passed the Lizard; Werk
endam, from New York for Rotterdam,
passed Scllly.
Arrived Steamer Alice Blanchard, from
San Francisco. Arrived down Schooner
John F. Miller, from Portland for San
Francisco. Left up British four-masted
Dumfriesshire, for Portland. Cleared
British ship Grasserdale, for Queenstown
for orders, with 47,437 sacks of wheat,
valued at $49,931 54.
9
Arnicninns lUised General Wallace.
CHICAGO, Feb. 21. General Lev.- Wal
lace was openly hissed several times in
Central Music hall tonight during his
lecture on "Turkey and the Turks." A
large number of Armenians were in the
audience, expecting General Wallace
would allude to the Armenian atrocities.
He did so, but his remarks did not suit
the Armenian portion of his audience,
and they expressed their feelings without
restraint.
New Jersey's Peach Crop.
FLEMINGTON, N. J.. Feb. 2L Out of
263 inquiries sent out among the largest
peach growers in th's vicinity, 200 substan
tially report that the prospects for an
enormous crop next season are good. The
buds were reported frozen several times,
but the growers contradict the statements,
and say that the buds are in a healthy
condition. The blackberry crop is proba
bly killed.
A Fight AVlth Russian. Students.
ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 2L The stu
dents demonstrations became so riotous
that soldiers wera summoned to quell
them. The students resisted, and a fierce
fight ensued. Order was not restored be
fore many students had been arrested
and a number Injured.
CHURCH AMFSTATE
(Continued from First rage.)
dared that to the Pacific coast the ques
tion of a cable connection with Honolulu
overshadowed and transcended all others,
save only that of the construction of the
Nicaragua canal, and added:
"The people of the Hawaiian islands give
us 90 per cent of their trade. More of our
ships entered the port of Honolulu than
any other port in the world last year,
Liverpool not excepted. Aside from the
commercial reasons for the construction
of the cable, there are patriotic and pub
He reasons."
Harter thought this cable should be laid
by private capital, and he said pri
vate parties had appeared before the com
mittee and asked for a charter for this
purpose. Ryan thought this democratic
house could well afford In the closing
hours of the session to show its sympathy
wlth merchants desiring to extend our
trade by voting an appropriation for the
construction of this cable. Sickles earnest
ly supported the cable proposition. He
was compelled to appeal from the judg
ment of the house committee on foreign
affairs to that of the senate committee.
As an American, he had a platform of his
own. He favored annexation. As a dem
ocrat, he found his warrant In the policy
of Jefferson, who annexed Louisiana, and
of Jackson, who annexed Texas. If party
lines trammeled him on a question like
this, he would break them asunder, as he
had done before. There could be no par
tisanship in Americanism. He concluded:
"Mr. Speaker, my span of life has not
much longer to run; yet I hope to live to
see the star of the republic of the Pacific
add Its tropical splendor to the star of the
Western hemisphere."
McCreary closed the debate, and in the
course of his remarks denied that Mr.
Cleveland had ever Indorsed a proposition
for the construction of a Hawaiian cable
by the government. He had "merely fa
vored the incorporation of a company to
lay such a cable.
The vote was then taken on Hltt's mo
tion that the house agree to the senate
amendments. Hltt demanded the ayes and
noes, and the roll was called. His motion
was lost. Hi to 152. The vote was practi
cally a party one. The republicans and
populists voted for building the cable, and
the democrats against it. The following
democrats voted for the cable:
Bartlett, Ryan and Sickles, of New York;
Magulre, Camlnettl, English, Geary and
Cannon, of California; Cockrell of Texas,
Harris of Kansas, Ikert of Ohio, Living
ston of Georgia, McGann of Illinois, O'Neill
of Missouri, Snell of South-Carolina, and
Whiting of Michigan.
Without division, the house, on motion
of McCreary, non-concurred in the amend
ment, and a further conference was or
dered. Ellis of Oregon presented the conference
report on the bill to provide for the ex
amination and classification of certain
mineral lands in the Northern Pacific
grants in Idaho and Montana. Camlnettl
opposed the report, because it did not in
clude California and other states entitled
to similar relief. The report was agreed
to, and the house went Into committee of
the whole and considered the general de
ficiency bill. Breckinridge, who was in
charge of the bill, made a preliminary
statement of the appropriation carried,
which aggregated $6,519,539. An amend
ment was agreed to transferring to the
Columbian Museum at Chicago certain
portions of the state department exhibit
at the world's fair. Breckinridge also of
fered an amendment to pay Great Britain
$425,000 on account of the Behring sea
awards of the Paris tribunal, which wens
over without action. After completing 18
of the 53 paragraphs of the bill, under a
special order made some days ago, the
house listened to eulogies on the life and
public services of the late Senator Stock
bridge, and then, as a further mark of re
spect, adjourned.
The Cable Will Be Bnilt.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 21. The defeat
of the bill appropriating $500,000 for a
I'nited States cable between this city
and the Hawaiian islands will not intcr-
I fere with the enterprise of the Interna
' tlonal Pacific Cable Company. This com
T pany recently asked congress for a char
ter to build a line from this city to the
Hawaiian Islands, and thence to Japan,
and Its request will be duly granted. The
Japanese government will encourage the
cable company by the gift of a subsidy,
and the cable will pay well. The proper
estimates have been made, and the cable
enterprise is in far better shape than most
people imagine.
PACIFIC RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
A New Bill to Be Reported Based
Upon the Rcilly Measure.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. The house
committee on Pacific roads today decided
to report a new bill based on the Reilly
bill, but having certain changes recom
mended by Chairman Reilly. The com
mittee voted not to make the new bill
public until it could be printed. An out
line is as follows:
Section 2 provides that if the Union Pa
cific, the Central Pacific or the central
branch of the Union Pacific shall, with
in 12 months, pay to tho United States an
amount equal to the principal of the sub
scriptions of the United States, the sec
retary of the treasury shall convey to
the company, or its trustees, so much of
the Indebtedness of the company to the
United States, as will be equal to the
sum paid to the United States, together
with the lien and mortgage of the
United States on the railroad, so far as it
shall be required to secure to the as
signee the payment of the portion of the
indebtedness to be assigned, "but withotit
recourse to the United States in any
event," and all the moneys and securi
ties in the sinking fund shall be deliv
ered to the company or trustees, provid
ing the indebtedness so assigned shall be
extended not more than 30 years at a ratd
of interest not exceeding 5 per cent. The
balance of the Indebtedness to the United
States, being the interest due to the date of
the payment of the principal, shall be ex
tended for 50 years, and paid in semi-annual
installments, and for it the com
pany shall issue bonds to the govern
ment. Such company may issue to the
purchasers of such claims its negotiable
bonds payable In 15 years, at interest at
5 per cent; that is, the purchasers of the
principal of the government debt.
Section 3 provides the government lien
shall remain in full effect, but enforcable
as security for the payment of indebted
ness due the United States.
Section 4 provides for the payment of
the first mortgage bonds by renewing
them by a new issue to run 50 years, with
interest at a rate not exceeding4 per cent,
and secured by the first mortgage, the
same as are the bonds they are issued in
renewal of.
Section 6 prohibits the companies from
paying dividends so long as the bonds
authorized' by the act are outstanding,
unless they have been actually earned, or
the company has paid all its obligations
to date under the bill, or unless the earn
ings, after deducting all Interests accrued,
but not payable at the time of the decla
ration of the dividends, warrant It. And
no dividends over 4 per cent are to be
paid unless an equal amount of excess of
4 per cent Is paid upon the principal of
the government debt. The companies are
to co-operate in making track conditions
with all roads that Join them, and to
exchange traffic on equal shares and de
vices to evade this shall be unlawful.
Section 7 provides the companies, when
required in writing by the department of
justice, shall institute suits at law or
equity against any parties for misappro
priation of assets, the suits to be con
ducted by the attorney-general in the
name of the comparies, and the sums re
covered to be applied to the payment of
bonds, and any excess to be paid to the
companies. The remaining sections pro
vide for foreclosure by the government
in case of default under the terms of the
Reilly bill.
The bill met with greater favor In com
mittee than its predecessor. The minor
ity members say they will contend In their
report that the outcome of the plan, Jf
adopted, will be the continuance of the
Union Pacific under its present manage
ment, and the Central Pacific will come
into the hands of the government, a prac
tically wjrthless property, because it
would be without terminal facilities.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
One by Squire of Washington and
Another by Mitchell of Oregon.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. Several pro
posed amendments to the pending appro
priation bills were introduced in the sen
ate, without much prospect of passage.
Squire gave notice of an amendment to
the sundry civil bill appropriating $5000
for an investigation of the commercial
and gold resources of Alaska. Perkins
of California gave notice of an amend
ment to the naval bill appropriating $150,
000 toward the construction of a drydock
at the Mare island navy-yard, the limit
ot cost being fixed at $700,000. Mitchell of
Oregon gave notice of an amendment
to the same bill which provides that any
officer, while within the retiring age of 62
years, who has been transferred from the
active to the retired list, for disability pos
sibly curable, shall be subject to exam
ination at the navy department's discre
tion as to ability to resume the duties of
his existing commission, and if found
thus able, and there being no other neces
sity for his continuance as a supernumer
ary officer, he shall be ordered back to the
active list, according to his existing com
mission, when the next vacancy occurs.
To Improve the Service.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. The senate
committee on commerce today, through
Frye, made a favorable recommendation
to the committee on appropriations on an
amendment to the naval bill, which au
thorizes the president to convene at any
time he may deem proper a board, to be
composed of three surgeons of the marine
hospital service, to report upon all offi
cers in the revenue cutter service who,
through no vicious habits of their own,
have become or may hereafter become
incapacitated to perform their respective
offices. It is provided that such officers
as may be permanently incapacitated
shall be placed on waiting orders out of
the line of promotion, and the vacancy
thus created in the active list is to be filled
by promotion in the order of seniority.
Credentials of Bntler and Tillman.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2L Two of the
senators-elect from the Carolines ex
Governor Tillman, of South Carolina, and
Marion Butler, of North Carolina made
their first appearance on the floor and
their credentials were presented for terms
beginning March 4 next.
THE USUALa CLAIMANT.
An, Alleged Contract Wife After the
James Estate.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21. Charles A.
James, a practitioner of medicine, and
who also kept a lodging-house on Howard
street, died last month. He left an estate
valued at $50,000, of which $30,000 is cash
in bank. He lfft no will, and was sup
posed to have no relatives here. To friends
he had talked of relatives living some
where in the East. Living in James
house was a Dr. Mclin, his wife and two
young daughters. At the time of the
death of James, who was 73 years old,
Melln's younger daughter, aged 19, stated
that she had been engaged to marry the
old man. Today, when Public Adminis
trator Freeso applied for letters of admin
istration over the James estate, the girl,
who has heretofore been known as Laura
Melln, appeared in court in widow's weeds
and asserted her claim to the estate as
widow of the deceased. She declared that
they had been married by contract, but
confessed her inability to produce the con
tract. She said it had been lost. Ex-Attorney-General
Hart, who secured the
Blythe millions for Florence Blythe, ap
peared as her attorney.
Charles Fair Will Contest.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 21. Reuben H.
Lloyd, attorney for Mrs. Herman Oelrichs
and Miss Virginia Fair, announced posi
tively today that his clients would not be
parties to any contest of the will of their
father, the late James G. Fair. Charles
Fair will contest the will, however. The
question of admitting the will to probate
was to have come up In the superior court
this morning. Young Fair was present
ready to file his protest, but the whole
matter was finally continued until March 2.
TO REGULATE SPIRITS
COMBINATION OF ALL THE LARGER)
DISTILLERIES.
The Combine Decided to Sell at Ac
tual Cost, an Advance of Two
Cents a. Gallon.
CHICAGO, Feb. 21. The conference
called by the receivers oC the whisky trust
resulted today In the combination of all
the larger distilleries in the United States
with the trust to regulate the output and
prevent the overproduction of spirits.
The entire producing capacity of the
United States, with the exception of about
3 per cent, is represented in the com
bine, which has been named the Spirits
Distilling Association. The promoters of
the new organization have been given to
understand that the smaller operators will
co-operate with them, and it is expected
that the only firm of any size which was
not represented, the Indiana Distilling
Company, of Terre Haute, Ind., will agree
to the terms which, have been imposed.
As a starting point, which led to the
action taken, it wa3 determined to sell
spirits at actual cost of manufacture for
the present. After much calculation it
was decided to fix the price at 14 cents a
gallon, or two cents in advance of the
present rate. This rate will go Into effect
Monday morning, and, with a tax of $1 10,
will raise the price of spirits to $124 a
gallon. The principal object of the con
ference, it was given out, was to pre
vent the overstocking of the market and
prevent a loss to the manufacture rather
than to decide upon a price.
General McNulta, chief receiver of tho
Distilling & Cattle Feeding Company, was
named as chairman. The following sched
ule of basing prices for under-proof goods
was given out by the executive committee:
Chicago spirits, $1 23; St. Louis and Cin
cinnati, $1 2S.
The Whisky Trnst's Statement.
CHICAGO, Feb. 21. The receivers of the
whisky trust submitted a report of ex
parts to Judge Grosscup today, giving a
detailed statement of the affairs of the
trust. The report declares the concern has
$3,178,000 above all Indebtedness. The bal
ance sheet submitted shows quick assets
of $1,075,000 in excess of all liabilities. The
amount of rebate certificates i3 $!6S,023,
after deducting all disputed certificates.
In Olmstead's original bill for a receiver
it was stated that over $1,000,000 in such
certificates would fall due in February.
BREACH-OF-PROMISE SUIT.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 21. Dr. V. J.
Stearns, a wealthy physician, has been
sued for $10,000 for breach of promise by
Mrs. Bridget Ramage, a well-to-do widow.
Both are prominent socially. Mrs. Ram
age is the widow of the Japan agent of
the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, who
died four years ago, leaving Mrs. Ram
age property worth $100,000. Dr. Stearns'
first wife was 25 years his senior, but had
$40,000, which she left to him. Mrs. Ram
age says that she became engaged to
Stearns soon after his first wife's death.
She told him that she would manage her
own property after their marriage. Ac
cording to Mrs. Ramage, Dr. Stearns
has been leading a dual life, and, while
engaged to her, was maintaining intimate
relations with other women. Twice the
marriage ceremony was postponed by him,
Finally Mrs. Ramage, becoming sus
picious, met another of Stearns inam
oratas. The two women had a stormy
scene, ending by each slapping Stearna
in the face.
Reduction in Binder Twine.
MONTREAL, Quebec, Feb. 21. The
binder-twine manufacturers have decided
upon a considerable reduction in price,
owing to a reduction In raw material. Ef
forts are being made to Induce the Do
minion government to close the twino
factory at the Kingston penitentiary. Tho
works were established by the late Sl
John Thompson for special reasons, and
have not been a profitable Investment,