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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 1900)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 1900. PARTIAL ANSWER England's Reply Respecting the Flour Seizures. SATISFACTORY AS FAR AS IT GOES The Question Whether Foodstuffs Arc to Be Regarded as Contraband Is Not Decided. "WASHINGTON, Jan. 1L The answer of the British government to Mr. Choate's representation respecting the seizure of American flour and other goods on the three vessels, Beatrice, Mashona and Ma ria, has been received. Just as the offi cials of the state department expected, It amounts to a partial answer, very satis factory as far as it goes, disposing of the character of some of the goods seized, but not finally deciding broadly whether or not foodstuffs are to be regarded as con traband. The British government adopts precisely the point of view regarding the seized goods that -was assumed by the state de partment and embodied by Mr. Choate in his note on the subject addressed to the British foreign office. In brief Mr. Choate reports as follows: That the answer Is highly satisfactory; that is, in broad and liberal terms. The position assumed by the British government is that foodstuffs in transit to a hostile destination can be regarded as contraband of war only when they are supplies for the enemy's forces. It is not sufficient that they are capable of being used for the benefit of the enemy. It must be shown that they are so in fact by their destination at the time of seizure. The British government does not claim that any of the American goods on the Ger man bark Maria and the British bark Ma Ehona were contraband of war. The Brit ish government is investigating the facts in connection with the goods seized on the third vessel, the Beatrice. Mr. Choate's message embodied suc cinctly the authorities relied on by the British government to sustain its position and as this position, as already stated, is one of those already assumed by the state department, of course they are regarded as convincing. For this reason Mr. Choate's message is long, and it was nearly noon before it could be deciphered and placed in Secretary Hay's hands. It so happened that Lord Pauncefote, the British ambassador, was with the secre tary shortly after he received his message, and probably the subject was discussed by them. It is certain that both the sec retary ajjdXord Pauncefote appeared to be gratified at the progress being made toward a settlement of the cases. Noth ing was said directly in Mr. Choate's original message, nor in a supplementary message, which came later, explanatory of the preceding message, touching a re lease of the seized goods, but, of course, a fair inference from the statement that the goods on two of the vessels had been found to be not contraband, is that they ore, or will be, released. If any question arises as to compensation to the owners on ac count of these seizures, that can be ad Justed later on. It is probable, however, that the British government will not wait for any further hint, but will voluntarily make such amends as seem to be fair. It is believed that the uncertainty as to the character of the Beatrice's cargo is based on imperfect knowledge of the ownership of the goods. The American consignors, however, evidently apprehend- I ing that doubt might exist on that point, have come forward with the positive .statement that they have not been paid for the goods shipped, and that the drafts drawn by the consignees in South Africa were not collectible until the goods were safely delivered at their destination. Mr. Hopkins, the legal representative here of one of the largest firms con cerned in the ownership of the goods, was at the state department this morning to discuss the case with the officials. The next step will be the collection of data by the state department and by the British foreign office to establish fully the char acter of the goods on the Beatrice, and it is not expected that there will, in the meantime, be any further deliveries by the British government upon the general subject of the contraband character of foodstuffs. Later in the day the following official statement was given out by the state de partment: A telegram has been received from Ambassador Choate, reporting an inter view had by him with the Marquis of Salisbury on the afternoon of the 10th Inst., in regard to the American ship ments of flour and provisions on the de tained British ships Beatrice and Mashona and the Dutch steamer Maria. The Brit ish position as to foodstuffsgind hostile destination is that they can only be con sidered contraband of war if supplied for the enemy's forces, it not being sufficient that they are capable of being so used, but it must be shown this was their desti nation at the time of seizure. This quali fication virtually concedes the American contention that the goods were not sub ject to seizure, and practically disavows the seizure, it not being claimed that there is any evidence of hostile destina tion." England's Reply Satisfactory. BERLIN, Jan. 1L It is asserted that the German cruisers Schwalbe and Con dor, which were ordered to Delagoa bay, have been instructed to proceed Instead to Cape Town. This Indicates a belief In German official circles that the contra band controversy will be amicably set tled. LONDON, Jan. 12. The Standard, in an editorial upon the government's reply to Mr. Choate and Count von Bulow, says: "We shall be much surprised if the British government's definition of Inter national law, as applied to the carriage of foodstuffs, falls to find acceptance at "Washington and Berlin." BULLER IN BAD HEALTH. Gatacre Also on the Verge of a Collapse. NEW TORK, Jan. 1L A special to the World from London says: The London newspapers, without mak ing any direct charge, make announce ments that General Buller is not in good health. It is known here that the war office receives little if any information from him directly, while Lady Buller gets a message every day from her husband, briefly announcing hl3 condition. Gatacre Is also said to be on the verge of a col lapse. England's present situation is due more to trouble within the Br-tish lines than without, declare the expert military writ ers for the London morning newspapers, who say more things in private than the editors allow to get into print. Colonel Gough. who commanded the cavalry detachment in the battle of Ma gersfonteln, is in London, pressing for a court-martial upon Lord Methuen's report that he declined to carry out orders given him by the general in charge. Gough has been temporarily placated and urged to postpone his personal demands until the war situation is more settled. The uncensored mall reports assert that General Gatacre was sitting In the Molte no railway station with his head in his hands, bewailing the repulse of his troops, when the general In command of the com munications first reported the disaster to the Suffolk regiment under General French's command. The first tark of Lords Roberts and Kitchener, who arrived In Cape Town Wednesday night, must be, the war crit ics urge, to rearrange the generals in charge of the various British forces so that all may be brought up to an effec tive fighting point. General Hector Mc Donald and General Tucker are, now on their way from India to South Africa. The Dally Mail's military writer says: "The appearance of the new commander-in-chief upon the scene should restore the confidence of the soldiers, so sadly shaken by tht past. Let our men see that their lives are not being wasted and they may be called upon for any effort. There is now unfortunately no doubt that Lord Methuen's health has completely broken down. How long has this fact been within the knowledge of the war of fice?" The London Morning Post's military ex pert observes: "There is a weapon with which the mo bile Boers in certain cases can be held fast the spade. The British game Is to put a line of trenches along their front and prolong It around one of their flanks. General Sherman used to drive back Gen eral Johnston In this way, having himself the superior force. General Buller's force may not be superior to that confronting him, but as soon as his men have dug themselves trenches, a small party of them can keep back a large party of Boers. His mounted men can be used to push the lines beyond and around the Boer flank, being relieved as soon as they have won a position by the Infantry, able to hold it. "This would in ordinary cases end in forcing the retreat of the Boers. In Na tal, where, if they retreat, they free Lady smith. It would bring on the decisive bat tle under conditions less unfavorable to the British than those of the 15th of De cember." , , . , General Tule, who conducted the retreat from Dundee, after General Symons' death, is now In London, but in the str ct est seclusion. He Is suffering, it is said, from mental collapse, caused by his at tempts to follow and save the troops which were in deadly peril from trying to hold the advanced posts in Natal without sufficient strength of cavalry and artLlery. RECALL OF METHUEN. Announced" by the London Corre spondent of a Jievr Yorlc Paper. NEW YORK, Jan. 1L A dispatch to the Tribune from London says: Lord Methuen has been recalled to Eng land. This statement is made on the high est authority. It is reported he was labor ing under great mental excitement after the battle of Modder river, and that the war office has considered it necessary to displace him, as he is evidently not In condition to command troops. Two mem bers of his family are said to be weak minded. Disappointments and reverses are en dured by the Englishmen with fortitude and grim stoicism, but the utter lack of trustworthy news from General Buller's army has been borne with Increasing signs of Impatience and Irritability. The summons of the ambulance corps to the front last week, after every available battalion and cavalry troop had been called into Natal, was accepted as the sig nal for an impending battle, but when Ladysmith was hard pressed on Saturday the relieving army was only capable of making a harmless reconnolssance worthy of a tranquil summer's day maneuvers at Aldershot. General Buller's Immediate advance was regarded as the Inevitable sequel to the desperate Boer assault upon Ladysmith, which had been -well-nigh successful, but three days have passed In silence, if not in inaction. Probably no recent experi ence has been more trying to the English temper than this conspiracy of silence in Natal, when every man has felt in his heart that there was no time to lose and that an army of over 20,000 British sol diers ought to be moving with untiring energy and Irresistible force across the Tugela for the deliverance of White's he roic garrison. The Morning Post has Joined the Dally Mail In attacking the ministry and de manding the reconstruction of the cabinet, but this campaign has not made any progress outside the newspaper offices. The party whips smllo Incredulously whenever it is suggested that the gov ernment is in danger. The Standard, which has neither hot nor cold fits, repre sents the conservative party more accurately than any other Eng lish journal, and it has not yet lost its presence of mind. What is evident to all observers is that the loss of Ladysmith without a second attempt at relieving the army across the Tugela would be more discreditable than a fresh reverse of Buller's forces, and that public confidence in the government would be fatally impaired. John Bull is, Indeed, in a bad temper and in no mood for explanations from any source. What he wants is news from the front and under the censorship he gets little or nothing. The military writ ers for the press have lost their public, and the veterans of the clubs talk to blank walls when they explain that Bul ler probably set In motion Warren's di vision on a turning movement, east of Co lenso, which depends for success upon se orecy, and that It will probably end in the capture of a large portion of the Boer forces. Equally indifferent to details are the groups of clubmen gathering about the croakers who assert that Buller Is wait ing to discover by hook or crook where the enemy's guns are concealed, or to straighten out his mule transport serv ice, or to get Lord Roberts' opinion be fore striking another blow. No English man wishes to believe that General Buller is waiting for anything except the chance to defeat the enemy by a strong attack and strategic combinations. A DUTCH PRIVATEER. Converted Yacht to Prey on British Commerce. SAVANNAH. Ga., Jan.vlL A special to the Morning News from Atlanta states that Captain Charles N. Hill, a resident of that city, who was an officer on the Bra zilian revolutionary cruiser Nictheroy, has receivea a letter irom Lieutenant McDon ald Craven, who was on the Nlctherov with him, offering him command of a con verted yacht armed with two 4.5-inch guns, which had been equipped by the Boer government to prey upon British commerce on the Atlantic coast. E. A. Steyn was named as the Transvaal agentj with headquarters in Savannah, who had arranged for the expedition, which was to start from the Bahamas. Steyn went to Atlanta, It Is said, to in duce Hill to join the expedition, but Hill refused. Investigation in Savannah fails to disclose any clue as to Steyn or any one answering his description. Parliament Summoned. LONDON, Jan. 11. The queen has pro claimed the meeting of parliament for January 30. i a COLONEL STONE SHOT. Shot While Foreclosing: a Mortgage on a Farm. KINGFISHER, o7T., Jan. lL-Colonel John Stone, president of the People's bank, of Kingfisher, was shot and killed at 2 o'clock this afternoon at the farm of Jim Watcher, near Columbia, Kingfisher coun ty. Colonel Stone had foreclosed a mort gage on Watcher and went there today to take possession. Watcher claimed his attorney had advised him to resist evic tion. Colonel Stone was one of the majors in the First Territorial regiment, United States volunteers, and was at "the time of his death colonel of the Oklahoma Na tional Guard. - n r Champagne Imports in 1800. As shown by customs statistics, the Im ports In 1S99 of G. H. Mumm's Extra Dry reached the enormous figure of 109,303 cases, being 72,495 cases more than of any other brand a record unprecedented In the history of champagne. Its 1S95 vint age now imported has no equaL The National Woman's Temperance Union has been organized in Belgium, with Madame Keelhoff as secretary. WAS TWICE INAUGURATED GOVERNOR SHAW'S SPEECH TO THE IOWA LEGISLATURE. Plea for a Merchant Marine, Nica ragua Canal, Sound Money and a Trust Remedy. DES MOINES, Jan. 1L For the second time Governor Shaw was inaugurated a3 chief executive of the state this afternoon. The oath of office was pronounced by Chief Justice Granger, of the supremo court, in the presence of 5000 people. The ceremonies consisted of a parade from the statehousc headed by a troop of the Na tional Guard and exercises at the audito rium, which concluded with an address by Lieutenant-Governor Milliman. In his in augural address, Governor Shaw said: "At tlie beginning of tHe 19th century eOt8ltt8S8l99t899tt Cj 99 999 o o o o o o e o o o o o o o o o o a o e o o o e o o o o o o o o o o o o e o o o o o o e o o o o o o VALUATION OF TAXABLE The assessed valuation of property'ln Oregon for 1S99 is 120,287,873. Thi3 is the lowest total since 1890. The decrease since 1893, the year of highest valuations, has been $47,801,026. But there has been a net gain Iii values of 56,210,091 since 1890. Assessed valuations in Oregon for 1899 showed a reduction of $13,245,693. Of this Multnomah county contributed $11,210,693. Multnomah's reduction was 26 per cent. Washington's was the same. Jackson's was 24; Gilliam's, 19; and Douglas', 15. The smallness of the assessmenet for 1899 is evidence that county asses sors are not giving fictitious values to property. Assessed valuations are now lower than at any period of the good or hard times of the '90s, or in the present era of prosperity. Assessors have nothing to fear when there Is no state board of equalization to run up values on them. Following Is a general summary of the total amount of taxable property In Oregon since the admission of the state into the Union:' Assessed Year. valuation. 1859 $ 24.1S1.663 1860 23.SS6.951 1861 21.2S8.931 1S62 19.8S6.12) 1S63 20,911,931 1864 22,118.513 1865 24,862,762 1866 25,560.312 1867 25,893.469 1868 26,746.862 1869 26,919.097 1870 29.5S7.S48 1871 34,744,459 1872 37.174.16S 1873 40,700.159 1874 40,494,236 1875 41,486,0S6 1876 40,733.361 1877 43,324,411 1878 46,240,324 1879 46,422,817 oooeoeoooooooooooseooooeoeoeoooeooooooooeooooooooooo' we were carrying 90 per cent of our for eign commerce In American ships. We now carry one-fifth, or 20 per cent. Shall this continue? We are possession of the Pacific. Shall we build the ships requisite to Its enjoyment. It Is as truly ours if we have the courage of our convictions as are the islands that rise above Its surface. Shall we not cut a passage way to It from the Gulf and develop to tho fullest the trado which It has placed within our reach? To build a merchant marine will require both time and the Eame measure of encouragement as the nations of Eu rope accord those with which we must compete. "The United States Is conceded to be the great agricultural country of the world, and our manufactories rind few rivals. There Is no valid reason why we may not also become the great commercial and financial center. But in order to do thio we must have as good money as our European competitors. And what charac terizes good money? I answer certain and ready exchangeability. Sliver Is as good as gold only so long as It can be exchange at par for gold. "I think those who contended at the trust convention In Chicago last fall that trusts and monopolies should be treated as synonymous terms were' correct. I have yet to find the first man who has a word to say in extenuation or defense 'of monopolies. Gentlemen of the general as sembly, let It be your duty to crush every one within your reach, and the people of this state will call you blessed, and the people of every other state will take notlco of your wisdom and will follow the course you shall have marked out. If all the states of the Union could be Induced to unite upon some singles policy, I would have no fears of successfully combating monopolies in this country. They might be built up abroad, but they could then be effectively reached by means of a tariff. I think It Is generally conceded that the trust problem must be treated by the na tional congress rather than by state legis latures." THE KENTUCKY CONTEST. Governor Taylor Asfas That the Dem ocratic Committeemen Vacate. FRANKFORT, Ky., Jan. 11. Governor Taylor, through' his attorney, Judge W. H. Yost, filed with the contest committee a motion to .require the democratic mem bers now serving on the committee to va cate. The motion Is supported by an af fidavit charging that the names were fraudulently drawn by the clerk, and the democratic members now serving are all disqualified by reason of partiality for the contestant, alleged evidence of which Is mentionel specifically as to each. It re fers to the rules of the committee, which he says were so framed as to exclude the greater part of his testimony, and charges In general terms that the trial of the con test Is about to be made throughout on partisan lines, and without regard to tho merits of the case. Chairman Hickman announced that the affidavit and motion would be taken under advisement. The house adopted the senate resolution providing for the joint committee to in vestigate the Whallen-Harrell alleged bribery. An amendment was adopted pro viding that the speaker appoint two demo crats and one republican on the commit tee, and requesting the senate to name its part of the committee thesame way. The republican leaders, while not aban doning the fight aginst Goebel in the leg islature, are eagerly awaiting news from Washington as to what aid the federal government would give Taylor In tho event Goebel is seated by the legislature. That the republican leaders are advising Governor Taylor to resist In case the legis lature decides In favor of Goebel and are promising support to him Is generally ad mitted. Major Atwood, whom Governo: Bradley appointed senator In 1896, but who failed to be seated, said tonight: "Taylor has been elected, and if he is turned out by an arbitrary board we could not countenance Its action. We will fight, If it be necessary." There was a conference tonight of re publican leaders from all over the state, among whom were several prominent fed eral office-holders, and It Is said stronger pressure Is to be brought to bear at Wash ington In favor of Taylor than has been heretofore. Boer Resolution Tabled. COLUMBUS, O., Jan. 11. The house of representatives today, by a strict party vote, Indefinitely postponed the resolution expressing sympathy with the Boers in their war with Great Britain. The repub licans voted in the affirmative. Clarlc Is Mayor of Sacramento. SACRAMENTO. Cal., Jan. 11. The in junction proceedings in the mayoralty case, enjoining George H. Clark from ex orcising the duties of the office, were dis solved by Judge Hughes today. Clark Is now In possession of the office. Arrested, for Bribery. OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 11. Four members of the board of education' were arrested today on warrants charging them with accepting a bribe. They are: A. M. Cowle, G. G. Irey. George H. Hess and Frank A. Sears. The case grows out of the letting of a contract for Venetian blinds for several large new school build ings erected last year. i ' FRENCH RECIPROCITY TREATY Prospects of Its Ratification by tlie Senate Are Not Bright. NEW YORK, Jan. 1L A special to the Tribune from Washington says: The reciprocity treaty with France Is proving a hard nut to crack, and the pros pects of its ratification by the senate and its approval by congress as required by the provisions of the tariff law of 1896, by virtue of which it was negotiated,, have not greatly improved, although Mr. Kas son, the commissioner who conducted the negotiations on behalf of the United States, In his statements to the committee on foreign relations of the senato im pressed some of tho members with views less unfavorable than they had hitherto entertained. He was not, however, provided with data to remove some of their more serl- 99000000900006006000000900 PROPERTY IN OREGON Assessed Tear. valuation. 1SS0.-. 5 48.4S3.174 1881 59.256,175 1882 63,843,607 1883 75,306,953 1SS4 78.776,011 1S85 .- 76,567,795 18S6 -. 79,128,778 1887 84.SS8.580 1SS8 85,893.429 1889 :... 101,597,341 1890 114,077,788 1891 149.884,243 1892 160,263,646 1893 168,0S8,905 1894 150,399,383 1895 144,445,926 1896 143,176,971 1897 . 134.917;i04 1S9S 133,533,577 1SS9 120,287,879 ous doubts. He explained the difference between the maximum and minimum rates of the French tariff, which, he said, ranged from 75 per cent to 15 per cent, and read a long list of articles, the du ties on which would be reduced, together with the various percentages of reduc tion, if the treaty should be ratified and become operative. He also explained that all the countries of Europe except Portugal enjoy the ad vantage of minimum rates under the French tariff by virtue of arrangements and treaties that had been made from time to time, whereas with a few excep tions, and those not consisting of manu factured articles, all grades Imported Into France from the United States are sub jected to the operation of the maximum tariff. France, he said, Imports about 5100,000,000 worth of manufactured prod ucts a year, of which about 540,000,000 in round figures came from the United King dom, 530,000,000 from Germany, only $3,000, 000 from the United States, and the re mainder from other countries. He was not supplied with data showing what were the principal manufactured goods Imported to make up the total of 540,000, 000 from the United Kingdom, or the 530,000,000 from Germany or the $3,000,000 from tho United States, or the respective and minimum rates on such principal ar ticles. Neither was the commissioner 'prepared, when questions were asked, to show tho amount of goods imported from France last year on which it Is proposed to low er the rates of duty for the benefit of the manufacturers and exporters on such articles and goods when Imported into the United States. He was. not supplied with figures showing the exports to France from the United Kingdom, Ger many and the United States, respectively, of articles which will be required to pay the maximum rates of duty even in case the treaty shall be ratified and become operative, or the respective maximum and minimum rates on said articles which, If Imported into France from the United Kingdom, Germany and all the other countries of Europe except Portugal, en joy the advantages of the minimum rates. Of course the Information and facts above are essential to any intelligent consideration of the pending treaty by congress" and the commissioner promised to supply them as soon as practicable, in response to the request of the commit tee. Mr. Kasson's arguments in favor of the treaty are said to have been ear nest and skijlful, as well as strong in some respects. One statement he Is said to have made, however, will be sharply challenged by the republicans of both branches of congress who were actively identified with the tariff legislation of 1897, and that was that many of the rates were purposely made higher than neces sary in order to make it easier and more desirable to negotiate commercial reci procity treaties with France and some other European, countries. Several mem bers of the finance committee of tho sen ate and the ways and means committee of tne house have already declared them selves pointedly and emphatically In pri vate conversation against that or any similar assumption, which they say Is wholly unwarranted by facts. Of course the members of the finance committee are deeply concerned in the fate of the pending treaty, and several of the'm are of the opinion that as It and other reciprocity conventions refer exclusively to tariff provisions and rates of duty, they should have been referred to the finance committee In the first In stance, instead of to the committee on foreign relations, phalrman Davis, of the latter committee, appears to have realized that there was justice In this contention when he suggested to Chairman Aldrlch, of the finance committee, that he appoint a subcommittee to attend today's and other hearings, with a view to co-operate in consideration and action. The sug gestion did not bear fruit, none of the members of the finance committee being present at the hearing except Senator Wolcott. who Is also a member of the committee on foreign relations. Later a conference was held, at which most of the republican members of both commit tees were present, and the subject was discussed and considered. Out of this will probably come harmonious action on all the treaties by the two committees most deeply concerned. What members of the finance commit tee most want are facts such as have been outlined above, showing what ad vantage, will be reaped by the parties to the respective treaties, and whether the French treaty or any or all of the pending treaties, if ratified and carried into effect, will probably result to the advantage or disadvantage of the United States. Mem bers of the committee on foreign relations-are equally anxious to obtain Infor mation on these essential. If not vital, points before they decide what action to recommend. The committee on foreign relations has not yet taken up the Argentine treaty, which, to become operative, according to its terms, must be ratified and the rati fications exchanged on or before Febru ary 10, one month from today. TO REDUCE THE SURPLUS XO BETTER WAY THAN TO SCAT TER IT ABOUT IN PENSIONS. Bondholders Pluck the Government, So Why Shouldn't the Veteran's Family i They CnuT PORTLAND, Jan. 10. (To the Editor.) As one who draws a pension and Is not "ashamed of It, though not dependent on the pension for my bread, will you permit me a word? Up to the act of 1S90 all pensions were granted on the basis of actual Injuries re ceived In the service of the government, or the widows and orphans who had be come such because of the injuries. (I re fer to pensioners of the civil war.) The government took every precaution to pro tect itself against -fraud. An applicant must prove that he was the identical per son described in his aopllcatlon by both the records and surviving comrades, and that his disability was the direct result of his service. Then a board of three sur geons must pass on his case, and finally the commissioner at Washington. In 1S30, owing to the difficulty of meeting the tech nical demands of the law, made Impossi ble in many cases bpcause of the death of medical officers, congress passed "the dependent pension law. ' Under this law a surviving soldier who was disabled was not required to establish the fact that his disability resulted directly from his service, but the proof of disability was demanded us much as ever, and it must be shown that he was not disabled by vicious hab its. As to widows, they were no longer re quired to prove that their husbands died from Injuries received In service, but they must show that they are not able to sup port themselves from their Incomes. This Is the only legislation that hints that pen sions are charities. The maximum pen sion to survivors under the act of 1S90 is $S, and of widows 512 per month. The Grand Army can no more put a name on the pension roll that It can put that name on the books of a bank, or the payroll of a factory. No doubt there are some fraudulent pensioners, and If the dictum that "every man who can earn his liv ing and accepts a pension Is a fraud" then there are a great many of us. It Is just this that we resent with all the old blood there Is in us. We deny that pensions are charities. The government Is simply pay ing a debt, and the question of how much we may have or be able to earn has no more to do with It than It would have with the payment of a note in bank, or the subscription to The Oregonian. A little parable will make my meaning plainer. In 1861 there lived three brothers. The two older had families, and the young er was a boy of 16. The married men, John and James, had S5000 In gold each. After a time John Invested his gold In greenbacks, receiving 510,000, with which he bought United States bonds. On these bonds he received interest In gold and paid no taxes. With some of his friends ho organized a bank and became cashier at a salary of 52000 per year. His bonds were deposited with the government and the bank Issued money, which was loaned to the people. The bank prospered. With the profits John bought more bonds and enlarged the bank circulation, all the time drawing Interest on the bonds and growing In wealth. He and his family are now all rich, and the government never asks him whether he is able to make a living with out collecting his Interest for his bonds. James saw that Uncle Sam needed men as well as money, so he bought a home for his family and enlisted. His pay was $13 per month, paid In greenbacks. Some of the time It would not be 55 In gold. He served his time out all through the cam paigns inthe West, and was several times fit for the hospital, but too plucky to go, and therefore got no hospital record, but everybody could see that he was not tho man he was when he went out. He went back to the farm, but his army life had spoiled him for a farmer and somehow with all his hard work he could not make a living. He borrowed money at John's bank until he was hopelessly In debt. But he never applied for a pension. In 1SS0 he died, leaving a widow and five children. John was kind and let them live on the farm, and the children received an ordi nary common school education. But even a brother cannot be expected to hold a mortgage forever, and banks are not char itable institutions, so the farm went to the bank. About that time a pension agent suggested that she apply for a wid ow's pension, and she did. But there was no record that her husband died from dis ease contracted In the army. She failed In her application and worried on as best she could. Her children were faithful and worked hard. In 1891 Phe applied again un der the new law, but when the special ex aminer came and asked if she did not have as much as 58 per month from some source, she, being an honest woman, said: "Why, yes; my children earn more than that, and they are very kind and give me a living. I would not have to go to the poorhouse If the pension is not granted." She was rejected on the ground of "not needing the pension," and the banker said: "The commissioner we now have Is right to shut off those pensions that are threat ening the very life of the government," and It Is said that the next time he cut his coupons he actually sent his brother's wlfo 55. The youngest brother William enlisted In 1862. belnsr 17 years of age. He was healthy and made a good soldier, never being sick a day; but he caught a bullet at Chlckamauga that broke no bones, but Injured the sciatic nerves and left him a weak leg. He, however, went, back to the regiment and served till the end of the war and came home. He could not work on the farm because of lameness. His brother could not take himlnto the bank for lack of training in business. He had pluck and brains, and made his way through college, though his years In the army somewhat unfitted him for student life. He went Into a profession where he must live on a salary. By hard work he after a time commanded a fair living sal ary, but his old army habits of using his money freely for whatever good thing pre sented Itself has made It Impossible to save money. He is a gocd citizen, and highly honored, but has not nor never Will he accumulate a competence. Not a day of his life that he does not suffer from that old wound, and the probabilities are that he will not live out his natural life, or If he does, the last part of It will be of helplessness and suffering. That man draws a pension, though he Is able to earn a living, and he is neither a fraud nor a pauper. If It will do the men who never smelled powder nor slept In the trenches, nor felt the twinge of hunger and cold, any good to see his name In print, he Is willing to have it there. He can stand by the side of the gallant Gen eral John A. Logan and say: "My pension money is the money nf which I am most proud." But he would also insist that alongside the list of pensioners there be printed a list of the men who grew rich out of war contracts and war bonds. Let me repeat my parable. John invested $5000 in gold, but in such a way that it counted $10,000. and on this he drew inter est and principal In gold without taxa tion, and the government was so kind as to make his Investment the foundation of his fortune as a banker. He was never asked, when he presented a counon or bond, "Do you need this money?" He claimed his right, and he got It to the full pound of flesh. James invested his life, and by that act made John's bond worth anything. He died poor and left a widow, who. In order to receive a cent from the government he died to save, must declare herself a pauper and receive the pittance as charity. William, the patriotic boy, offered his full young life; the government took three years of tho best of It and sent him home handicapped In the race by lameness and weakness. He has made the fight against odds. He honestly walks up to the government treasury and Asks his rights under the law, 58 per month, but because he har manly energy and heroism enough to earn a living, you call him a "fraud." William Is a member of the "Grand Army of the Republic," and hia post is the best friend to the widow of his brother James that she has. I join my comrades in denouncing fraud ulent pensions, but I say "show us the frauds," Mr. Cleveland was led Into this cry, and the government set on the de tectives like sleuthhounda. They did not discover enough frauds to equal the hundredth part of 1 per cent. The pension list is large, I know, but the cause for which the men, who draw pensions, fought was large. The results are large. The money paid every three months for pensions is scattered over the whole land, and nobody feels It except as a benefit. Our financiers say that one of the evils from which we are suffering is the heaping up of money in the United States treasury. I know of no more hon est and practical way of getting it out than in the payment of just and liberal pensions. By the way, If Secretary Gage Is cor rect In his contention that "gold was never at a premium, but greenbacks were at a discount," why has not every soldier a just claim against the governmet for full pay In real and par value money? General Benjamin F. Butler held that every soldier has a valid claim for his pay In gold. That question has never been settled In the supreme court. Possibly the old soldier is holding back a claim that If presented would raise such a commo tion as the pension roll knows nothing about. They are not nicely to do any such thing, but If the bondholders had as good a claim I am Inclined to think the. court would be called upon to render a decision. Yours truly, ALEXANDER BLACKBURN. ANGLO-BOER WAR. "England's Difficulty Is Ireland's Op portunity" an Irish Motto. SALEM, Jan. 9.-(To the EdItor.)-I was much astonished, pained and grieved to observe that Americans, claiming to be ot Irish birth or descent, have been writing to your valuable paper, espousing the cause of England In her unjust warfare upon the Boers. How an American of Irish birth or descent could take the side of England in her efforts to destroy the two small republics of South Africa is Incomprenslble to me. Such an American does not seem to remember the struggle of the colonies to free themselves from the unjust oppression of England. They lack the spirit of 1776. They do not realize how the colonists fought for their homes and the principles that the thought of lib erty inspires. The Boer farmers are now engaged In a similar contest, and the Omnipotent Ruler of all seems to smile upon their efforts. Do these Americans of Irish birth, or descent, remember the history of Ireland, when they assert that Irishmen should be neutral or sympathize with England against the Boers? Can ttiey recall the iniamous government of ire land and still contend for this? It cer tainly must be thoughtlessness on thelr part, or they are so circumstanced they cannot assert themselves as their hearts would prompt. If they cannot express their true sentiments, they should at least be silent, and not publicly assist the bully of nations and the oppressor of the weak and defenseless. From the time that Strongbow landed on the shores of Ireland, the history of the government of that country has been the most oppressive and unjust that the world has witnessed even worse than the government of India, where 3.0C0 000 of her people are now starving; or In Egypt, where England's oppressive laws have done their work. Do your correspondents recall the Crorrrwelllan government, the massacres ot Drogheda and Wexford, the driving of the Inhabitants of Ireland into the province of Connaught, and p aclng them on lands especially selected for th's purpose In a section of country that was very sterile, and where a blade of grass would scarcely grow? Can they remem ber the villainous penal laws of Ireland, how the people were deprived of educa tion, and were made "the hewers of wood and the drawers of water"? How a brave sensitive and Intelligent people, with a his tory for literature and learning of which any peop:e might feel proud, were enslaved and deprived of the advantages of civiliza tion because they would not bow their neck under the yoke, and "bend the preg nant hinges of the knee that thrift might follow fawning"? Are they unmindful of the fact that in 11 years, under the spirit of the Cromwellian government, 500 005 Irish were killed, besides the thousands who were banished and transported from the country? Do they recall the viola tion of the treaty of Limerick, and the chivalrous conduct of Sarsfleld. which en hances with special Interest the glory of his race? In more recent times, do your corre spondents remember the gallant struggle made by Ireland's gifted sons to 3ave the Irish parliament, and what treachery was used to destroy It? Have they forgottea how O'Connell was convicted of treason, when he never dlr, nor counseled, an act that was not strictly within the spirit as well as the letter of the English consti tution? They certainly do forget the mem ory of Grattan, Kmmet, Wolfftone, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Thomas Davis, John MItchel, Thomas Francis Meagher, Parnell and others: the United Ireland and the young Ireland party, composed of bril liant, brave and accomplished men. They say these oppres!ons were in the past. Coercion and oppressive measures of gov ernment have Deen exercised in our own day. The trouble, has always been that the English people have never honestly considered the rights of the Irish people. Tho English have, and do now, regard the Irish as an inferior rac?, and unworthy to b2 treated as equals; as Incapable of self-government. Some criticism has been made of the Clan-na-Gael and other kindred societies. The history of Ireland Is a full justifica tion for the existence of these societies. England would not permit constitutional agitation. Do your correspondents recall how Parnell and his lieutenants were thrown Into prison when they were pursu ing a strictly constitutional programme? In order to reach the Irish your corre spondents say that Roberts and Kitchener are Irish. They are Irish, simply by acci dent of birth. They are not in touch or sympathy with tho people of Ireland. They are not Irishmen like the men above men tioned. If they were they would not be :n prominent places in the army, no matter what their ability might bo. As to the treatment of the Irish people In present years I desire to call your cor respondents special attention to this: From 1S37 to 1S97 1.000,000 people of Ireland died from starvation; 3 CO0.C0O were evicted and 4.000.CCO were obliged to leave the country on account of England's laws. Irishmen have aGsIsted England In all of her wars, and what has Ireland received In return? Nothing but the tightening of the chains around the limbs of her people. While Irishmen have in the past assisted England in her troubles anc adversity, they have not been permitted to share In her triumphs and her glories. Reparation Is due from England to Ire land before any one could ask Irishmen or Americans of Irish birth or descent to sympathize with England In any struggle she might be engaged. The wrongs that have been heaped on Ireland for years must be atoned for by England, and the redress must not be doled out or grudg ingly given after a long contest. It must come unasked upon the part of the Irish people. The people of Ireland are in the same spirit today as when Strongbow sec foot on Irish soil or when Wentworth was engaged in his acts of cruelty. "Eng land's difficulties are Ireland's oppor tunities," is a motto that should not he forgotten and strictly adhered to by the "fighting race." Ireland's son3 and de scendants must never forget England's injustice and oppression. Reparation must be made for the long series of oppressive measures that have been passed by Ens- land; the destruction of Ireland's indus tries mu3t be atoned for; the infamous system Q absentee landlordism, mus ho, WM1 IS THE REASON? Why Is It that you are not equal to the task Nature sets for you to do? Why do you find weakness stealing over you and growing day by day? Why that ashy, chalky complexion? Why that inability to hold your urine? Why those distressing pains across your back? All theae symptoms are unmistakable evidences of kidney trouble. The kidneys, that make the human engine of life move as Nature Intended, are not working properly and should have prompt attention. If you need a medicine for kidney, blad der or uric acid trouble, you should begin using the famous new discovery. Dr. Kil mer's Swamp-Root. It gives quick relief, and cures the most distressing cases. Hospitals use it in all kinds of cases, especially severe and urgent ones. Doc tors prescribe it freely In ther practice and In their families, and use It when they need a kidney and bladder tonic them selves. Tens of thousands of grateful patlent3 have written to Dr. Kilmer & Co., and these letters have been fashioned Into a handy volume of ready reference, which should be in every household. This vol ume and a sample bottle of Swamp-Root will be mailed to any reader of this paper who will send name and adtfcress to Dr. Kilmer & Co.. and state that they read thta generous offer in The Portland Daiiy Oregonian. If there is any doubt In your mind a3 to your condition, take from your urine on arising about two ounces, place it in a glass or bottle and let It stand twenty-four hours. If on examination. It la milky or cloudy. If there Is a brick-dust settling, or If small particles float about In it your kidneys are in need of immediate attention. Swamp-Root is for sale everywhere n bottles of two sizes and two prices, fifty cents and one-dollar. Remember the name. Swamp-Root, and the address, Blngham ton. N. Y. destroyed before Irishmen and their de scendants can be asked to be neutral in a war In which England is engaged. Of your correspondents and ail thoso Irishmen who are assisting England I might say, with MacMahon, the Portland poet: Misguided Irish fuslleera. Tour sires in chains, your me ta tears, Why shed your blood to bind th fre, And Ireland craving: liberty? Today, from out their silent stone, Fitzgerald. Emmet and Wolf Tone Beseech you stay your martial hand Or strike for your own native land. All honor to the Irishmen and their de scendants who are at the present time en gaged In assisting the Boers In taeir struggle for freedom. They are made or the material which tyrants fear. D. to THE DRAINAGE CANAL. Water Po-ver From It Will Be Ised by the City of Chicngro. CHICAGO, Jan. 11. Water In the north section of the drainage canal tod.ii reached the top of the Bear trap dam at Lockport, and within an hour after th first thin sheet of water began pmru ; over the top, thousands of gallors water, under the pressure of the Immor volume of water In the windage bi were speeding on their way to the M..-- -slppl. Cakes of Ice and masses o drif wood were taken up in the current, an the roar of the water could be heard f r t quarter of a mile. It will be two or tl r days yet before the Chicago level i reached, and then dredging at the Circ -bell-avenue dam will be commenced. Water power sufficient to operate . h city pumping stations and municipal li ,ht ing plants for 75 years will be turned v -to the city of Chicago by the samt ir board as a result of a joint conference to day between the committees from tho v council and the drainage board. By t1 terms of the agreement, which will ii '. probability be ratified by the drainv board and tho city council, the w i r power privileges generated at Lockport ! the opening of the new drainage can.1! u i. bo transferred to the city at the ran' i 51 per horsepower. The amount of pay, -which it is estimated will be created t Lockport is about 23.600 horsepower, wb h will furnish the drainage board witn an annual Income of 5100,000. The condi lom defined at today's conference limit th u-o of the waterpower by the city authors for municipal purposes only. The city ui' bear the cost of building Improvements at Lockport necessary to use the power. o SHOOTING OF A DESERTER. Case Against Two Soldiers Charged With Murder. OMAHA, Jan. 11. The habeas corpus case of Corporal Fair and Private Jo k ens. of the Tenth Infantry, held In tr state court for murder for shooting I -serter Morgan, came up before JuiU1 Hunger, In the federal court, tod i . United States District Attorney Summ rj appeared for the prisoners. The facii re garding the killing are not in controvi-r-v, the question being whether it was iw -able. From the line of questioning aJui't ed and the attitude of the court, it Is fw dent that the result of the case larselv hinges upon whether Morgan was in, tli act of escaping when shot, or whether tiv escape was an accomplished fact and ti soIdler3 were simply trying to appreh" .d a deserter. If Morgan was an escapm prisoner, the judge Indicated that unU military law the soldiers had a right t . shoot, even If not on the military reser vation. If lie had escaped, the judge 1" . -cated that It was questionable whetn r they had even the right to arrest him, but should have appealed to the civil author' ties when Morgan was found outside of a military reservation. t a Lord Strnthconn. Will Equip Them. VICTORIA, B. C, Jan. 1L Lord Sur'fr cona has offered to equip a mounted c"rri of 400 Canadians for South African EC-vice, which. If the offer is accepted, w.'II be composed of British Columbians. R Eor Infant3 and Children. Tlie Kind You Have Always Bough! Bears the Signature Geo. S. Ecally. of 75 Nassau St.. New Trlr saya: "For years I have been troubel w i rheumatism and dyspepsia, and I came U, r? contfuuton to try your pilla. 1 Immediately f v, I great relief from their use: I fel like a - s man since I commenced taWng- them, and w not now be without them. The drowsy s - reeling I used to have has entirety dlsappe'r-J. The dyspepsia has Ie't me and my rheum zi jcone entirely. I am aati.ifled If any cat so lllcted will clve Radway'a Pills a trial fw -,-y k rarely cure them, for I bel!ev It all cymes' ' the system belni out of order the liver not dj i Its work." Curs' all Disorders of the Stomach, BowM. K' -neya. Bladder. Dizziness. Costivenesa, Pi.es, b c Headache. Female Complaints. Biliousness, I digestion. Constipation and alt disorders c: Liver. 2Sc pr bos At Druggisu' or by r-a Eadway Sc Co.. 53 Sim 3trt. N. T. Be sa-j jet "ItadwayV and see that th ttt q arhajt you buj. A