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
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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