VOL. XL 2JO. 12,231. PORTLAND, OREGON, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1900. PRICE FIVE CENTS. ANT SIZE. ANT QUANTITY. MACKINTOSHES. RUBBER AND OIL CLOTHING Goodyear Rubber Compan Rubber Boots and Shoes, Belting. Packing nd Hose. Largest and nest complete assortment of all kind of Rubber Goods. F. H. PEASE, Vke-Pres. and Manager BEST Blumauer - Furs! Furs! Furs! Manufacturers of Exclusive Novelties In Fine Furs, ALASKA OUTFITS In Fur Robes, Fur Overcoats, Caps, Gloves, Moccasins, etc. Highest price paid for Raw Furs. Q. P. Rumrnelin & Sons9 Oresrea Pheae Mala 481. HOTEL PERKINS Fifth and Washington Streets . . PORTLAND, OREGON EUROPEAN PLAIN - - - . Flrst-Class Check Restaurant CoHHcoted With Hotel. J. F. DAVtCS. Pros. St. Charles Hotel CO. (INCORPORATED). FRONT AND MORRISON STREETS PORTLAND. OREGON American and European Plan. To lease on ButtaMe location for sawmMt, warehouse or other manufacturing purposes. Deep wafer frontage. Astoria & Columbia River railroad main line passes through center of property. Splendid Facilities for Export Mill Central!' leoatei. This property Is In one body; no streets or alleys. Good local city trade. OaM or sdareoc WEST SHORE P. o. sex 2. THE Portland Seed Company ARB NOW COR. FRONT AND ALDER STREETS Formerly oh Second St., between Morrison and Yamhill. L as $3.50 Men's Shoes ALL. STTLB. ONE PRICE. SOLE AGENTS. E.C.Qoddard&Co. Q-REGOMAN BUILDING PHILIPPINE COMMISSION. Profeir fee, of Dniverslty of California, Hay Be a Momber. all ItiiPift M WARRINGTON. Feb. JL At the cabinet I ' ARUNDEL. Thursday evening Colonel meeting- totay some time wm oetnomned Henderson's squadron of the Inniskilllngs. In the atocMMton ot the poraomtol of the . witk two guns, reconnoitcred westward new PhlttpplBo commteoton. It was stated to Moolfontcin Farm, on the direct road that tho PrwMent h. sent telegram to to Colesberg and Hanover. They got close Creneral Luke . Wright, of MojnpMG. a4 ! Boers in the hills, and were fired to Henry C. Me, ot Vermont, asking thew I - They quickly got their guns In posl to come to Washington for a conference ! ttbn and shell the hills. Evidently the with htm. mad there aopears to fee ho I Boers were driven out, retiring north doubt that they will be asked to aooept "w". when they came under the fire of appointment on the commteaton. The two other STu13. supported by a company laat mutates; member of the cnwroicown , " Australians, near the British western will probably be selected from the Pa- post on Dr8on Hill. Colonel Henderson rifle Coast and there e Hole doubt that Proceeded to Mooifontein Farm, which he Bernard Moms, Profrinooi of PoHttoAl Economy In the UatrorsUy c OaMfernta, YriU be appointed. a a Fire i London, Ont, LONDON. OnC. Fern. IL-The Masonic Temple, the fittest structnre In the dty. was destroyed by ftr today. Tht toes Is ecftlmatea at sMM. The Great NnrCh trefKern Talesraph Omce and GcaaA Op-tN-HoM, which oocnnlod part the buUdlnc art amoac the pUvcee ratetd. A.y STYLE. 73 and 75 First Jt. Portland. Or. SMOKE THE FIVE-CENT CIGAR MADE Frank Drug. Co. BEAU BRMELL 126 SECOND ST., near Washington. Established 1870. Single rooms 75c to $1.50 per day Double rooms $1.00 to $2.00 per day C T. BELCHER, Sec. and Trcas. American European plan 51-25, 51-50, $1.75 plan 50c, 75c. $1.00 Lob MILLS-CO. ASTORIA, OR. LOCATED AT Why They Break If your frames are constant ly breaking, It is very likely because the lens is a little too large. Screwing it in place stretches the rims. It should be Just tight enough to hold firmly, but not so tight as to strain the metal. In repairing glasses or put ting up new ones I see that the lenses are just right. WALTER REED Bye Specialist 103 SIXTH STREET ORBGONIAN BUILDING IN NORTHERN CAPE .COLONY Bocm Withdrawing Toward the Free Stnte Border. now occupies. The Brltlsn patrols from Hanover also oame out that far. The Boers are not In great force. The have been persistently followed all day and have withdrawn a considerable dis tance northward. j The Oregon Editors. ' NBW ORLEANS. La,, Feb. 23. The ' Oregon delegation of editors, numbering 9M. arrived here safely. They will go to I Vlcksburg tomorrow, returning Monday. CRONJE British War Office Has Had No Word From Roberts. PRAISE FOR THE BOER GENERAL A Large Force Concentrating North of Klmberley White Made a Sortie. LONDON, Feb. 24, 4:15 A. M.-Balfour announced In the House of Commons at 12:30 this, morning that no further news regarding: General Cronje had been re ceived by the Government. He had sent to the War Office during the hour, and he asserted that nothing had come to band there. General Cronje, therefore, Is presuma bly still unbeaten. No other construction Is placed upon the three days' silence of Lord Roberts. Yet no one sees how it Is humanly possible, judging from the de scriptions of his situation Wednesday, for him to resist so long. Great Britain does not withhold admiration for the valor or a losing fight against such odds. "Englishmen feel somethng like pride in Cronje, even as a foe," says the Dally News. "In a position covering only a square mile, hemmed in on all sides, cir cled with a chain of fire from rifle, Maxim and Howitzer, played on by lyddite, burst ing In its own sickly green, light, his hastily-built trenches enfiladed by a stream of lead sweeping down the river from the north bank, General Cronje still elects to fight. It Is a magnificent courage." General Cronje's wife is described by the prisoners as urging him to surrender In order to save the lives of his men, but he would not. The British cavalry patrols sent by Lord Methuen north of Klmberley discovered the Boers concentrating, whether for de fense or offense Is simply conjecture. The Boers seem to be retiring from Gen eral Gatacre's front at Sterkstrom in or der to reinforce the Free Staters. Ladysmlth had not been relieved when the latest news left Natal, two days ago. The Boers had then retired half way be tween Ladysmlth and Colenso. If only 6000 went to the Free State, as both the Boer and the British accounts assert, the 12,000 who are left may maintain the siege and to resist General Buller within con tracted lines, although the Impression at General Buller's headquarters Is that the Boers are merely covering a retreat. The editorials in the morning papers complain, more or less vigorously, of the Insufficiency of the Government's naval preparations, especially in view of the im mense naval efforts of Germany and other powers. The conservative Standard says: "Perhaps this Is because the British navy is considered strong enough for its work, but the nation will ask for full assurances on that point." The Dally Mall says: "The proposals are so Inadequate that we cannot but express the. deepest surprise that the. Admiralty Board can be persuaded to a'ceeptrthem." Methuen in Charge at Klmberley. KIMBERLEY, Feb. 22. Lord Methuen arrived here Tuesday. He will act as ad ministrator of Klmberley District, ex tending southward to Orange River. Colonel Kekewlch will remain In com mand of the local forces. The issue of siege soup ceases today. There are 64 Boer prisoners here. Casualties at Paardeberg. LONDON, Feb. 23. An official report gives 146 men killed at Paardeberg Drift February 18, Including 63 Highlanders and IS Canadians. STARTLING RUMORS AT DURBAN. Relief of Ladysmlth, Surrender of Cronje, Wounding of Kitchcne-. DURBAN, Feb. 23 (Evening). The ru mor gains credence that Ladysmlth has been relieved. It is also reported that General Cronje has surrendered 8000 men, and that Gen eral Kitchener has been slightly wounded in the left arm. Crowds throng the streets singing and cheering because of supposed victories. Seventeen hundred Boers have been killed or wounded, the latter, it is re ported, Including General Cronje. PRETORIA'S "WAR BULLETINS. Boer Ofiiclnls Continue to Announce Successes. PRETORIA, Wednesday, Feb. 21. The following official war" bulletin has been Issued here: - "A report was received this morning of cannon-fire west of Colesberg. "At Petrusburg cannon-firing com menced at 6 In the morning. A big fight was expected today. Dewet telegraphea yesterday from Petrusburg that all was quiet, except several cannon-shots and small skirmishes. Testerday evening the British stormed the Federal positions as far as Schauser, but were driven back. "A message from Cronje is to the effect that his loss yesterday was 14 dead and wounded. Dewet's loss was nil. "Commander Fronoman reports that from February 15 to February 20 he was almost surrounded by the British at the Modder River, when with a small num ber of men he broke through the river. Sunday there was a heavy fight The British prepared to lay siege to the Boer laager, with fighting general. We were surrounded by 2500 British five miles from the chief laager. At night we cut our way through with the loss of 7 dead and 16 wounded. The loss to the British was heavy. "Testerday we cut our way through to reach Dewet, who was in the neighbor hood. Fifty-three prisoners formerly taken have been forwarded. "It Is reported that the British were continually attacking Koedoc's Rand yes terday with Infantry and lancers, but that they were driven back." Free State Capital Moved. LOURENCO MARQUES, Feb. 21 The Transvaal government is reported as seri ously alarmed at the defeat of the Boers at Klmberley and the retreat of their fa mous General, Cronje. The newspapers are most reticent, but the Standard and Digger News claims that Cronje's move ment Is beneficial, a? "lt increases the mobility of the burghers' army, enabling It to conduct more effective, beneficial oper ations on a carefully prepared plan." There are persistent reports that the seat of the Free State government Is be ing moved to Winburg. It Is said that 6003 burghers have ieen sent from Ladysmlth to Bloemfontein. "WHITE MADE A SORTIE. Captured a. Number of Boer Wagons Jonbcrt's Men Falling Back. LONDON, Feb. 24. The Daily Telegraph has the following dispatch from Chevcley, dated Wednesday, February 21: "It is reported that General White sor tted from Ladysmlth yesterday and cap tured a number of Boer wagons. There Is heavy firing In the direction of Lady- smith, either on the part of Sir George White or of the Boers." A dispatch from Cheveley, dated Thurs day, February 22, to the Daily Chronicle, says: "At dawn on Tuesday we found that the Boers had vacated all their positions south of the Tugela, and were In positions among the hills, midway between Lady smith and the river, and making a deter mined stand. Two Creusot guns were in action. All the British naval guns and all other heavy guns were brought to bear upon the new positions. We believe that this show of Boer strength was only In tended to cover a retreat. Testerday, the Boers were retiring all day. General Bul ler continued to harass them, compelling them to give way." A dispatch to the Dally Telegram from Pietermarltzburg, dated Thursday, says: "Fighting Is proceeding in the vicinity of Pieters this morning. General Buller's ad vance is being opposed by both big guns and rifle fire." The Daily Chronicle has the following dispatch from Ladysmlth, dated Saturday, February 17: "All day men gather on Convent Hill and try to see General Buller's shells bursting in the distance. The siege has been inexpressibly tedious for the last fortnight. The Boer camps have entirely disappeared from the old positions within the last few days, and large parties with wagons are trekking westward. It Is as sumed that the Free Staters are going to resist the advance of Lord Roberts." The Lourenco Marques correspondent of the Dally News, telegraphing Tuesday, says: "We are In a state of doubt and anxiety regarding events In the Free State. We hear that the telegraph wires between General Cronje and Bloemfontein have been severed and the news from the front Is conflicting. "It is a symptom of the present trend of events that storekeepers in the Free State have wired here. stop ping the forwarding of goods. I learn that the Transvaal Government has 5,000,000 in bullion at Pretoria, and Is coining 35,000 sovereigns a month." The Dally Chronicle has .the following dispatch from iCunberley, dated February 21: : . "Cavalry patrols that went north to capture the Boer 100-pounder report that the latter has been taken beyond Rlverton Station, drawn by 32 oxen. The British cavalry say that they saw Boer parties, but they, did not go beyond Rlverton for fear ofelng cut off. They learned, how ever, thj&t the Transvaalers were being concentrated on the border to the north. A party of Boers fired into the British camp. Fifty thousand rounds of ammuni tion were captured at Magersfonteln." EVACUATTNG NATAL. Slain Body of the Boers Gone to Op pose Roberts' Advance. CHEVBLBT, Feb. 22. The main body of the Boers has fled, evidently with, the ob ject of stemming the advance of Lord Roberts. Artillery Covering Boer Retreat. COLENSO, Wednesday. The British have crossed the Tugela over a pontoon bridge, north of Hlavanga, and now oc cupy Fort Wylie. While the naval bri gade was bombarding Grobler's Kloof, the Boers' big Creusot replying, yester day) -after the occupation of Colenso, "W small party of ThorneycroftT Hbrs6 crossed the river, but were driven back by Are from the trenches. The Boer guns are still shelling the relieving force from the hills south of Ladysmlth, but the impression is spreading that they are merely covering the retreat of the entire Boer force. General Buller's casualties Tuesday and Wednesday were: Killed, Captain Crea Iock and Lieutenants Keith, Falconer and Parry, of the Somersetshire Light Infan try, and nine men; wounded, six officers and 97 men; missing, five men. Ladysmlth Guns Active. KOOPF LAAGER, Ladysmlth, Feb. 2L There was heavy fighting all Monday and Tuesday, and It has continued since earty morning. Our officers hope to dis lodge the British from their position. Last night a body of British troops tried to cross the river, but were beaten back, with heavy loss. Our loss was slight. Our positions are being bombarded from Ladysmlth at a point where the Klip River passes through the hills. Our "Long Tom" Is replying with good effect BAD PHILADELPHIA FIRE. One "Woman Killed nnd Several Others Seriously Injured. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 23. One woman was killed, several others were severely in. jured and property valued at J500.000 was destroyed by fire which broke out tonight In the heart of the wholesale millinery district. The burned area covers nearly two acres. The woman killed was Clara Cohen, 26 years of age, a seamstress In the employ of Harris and Bernard Cohen. She met her death by jumping from the fifth floor of the building in which the Are started. Among the most seriously hurt was Clara Udor, who fell from the third floor of the same building. The fire started In the third floor of 721 Arch Street, occupied by Simon May, manufacturer of straw goods, and spread to the big six story building adjoining on the east occupied by Bowen, Dingan & Co., dealers In wholesale millinery goods. This structure was also soon entirely con sumed. By this time the building on the west of the May building, occupied by head offices of the Northern Life Assur ance Company, Park & Burden, barris ters; Roath Bros., and C. F. Turner, brok ers; F. H. Butler, broker; Keene Furniture Company; The Grand Opera House; R. G. Dun & Co., and the Dominion Loan & Savings Company's place were In a blaze. All these buildings are In ruins. Caused by Gasoline Explosion. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Feb. 23. The ex plosion of a gasoline stove in the base ment of the Metropolitan Hotel this af ternoon was followed by a fire which burned that building and the Hewlett Block, adjoining, causing a loss of about $160,000. A number of guests In the Met ropolitan Hotel were lowered from their rooms by means of ropes. o Yaqul Prisoners. CHICAGO, Feb. 3. A special to the Record from Guadalajara, Mexico, says: The 600 Taqul prisoners, recently taken from the Taqul country to Manzanillo, have left Collma" for Guadalajara, They are guarded by three companies of gov ernment troops. The trip will be long and fatiguing, as the Sierra Madre Moun tains have to be crossed. I o Condemned Chinaman's Suicide. SALT LAKE, Feb. 23. Low Sing, a Chinaman recently convicted of murder at Bingham City, and sentenced to be shot, committed suicide by hanging him self in his cell this morning. Daily Treasury Statement. WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. Today's state ment of the condition of the treasury shows: Available casii balance $298,593,933 Gold reserve 225,533,787 E Measure as Agreed Upon by the Conferees. AGREEMENT REACHED YESTERDAY Full Text of the Bill as It Will Be Reported and Probably ' Passed. WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. The Republi can members of the conference committee on tne nnanclal bill reached an agree- i ment today. The Democratic conferees ' the provisions of the acts of July 14, 1890. were called In, and stated their opposition , and June 13, 1898. from bullion purchased to the bill, and, without further formal- under the act of July 14, 1890, to retire and ity, the bill was ordered reported. cancel an equal amount of treasury notes The text of the bill, as agreed upon and ( -whenever received Into the Treasury either as It will be reported by the conferees, j by exchange, in accordance with the pro and as It will probably become a law. Is i visions of this act or in the ordinary as follows: "That the dollar, consisting of 25.8 grains of gold nine-tenths' fine, established by section 3511 of the revised statutes of the United States, shall be the standard unit of value, and all forms of money is sued or coined by the United States shall Map of the territory in .which operating adjacent to Klmberley, undecided battle between Cronje's be maintained at a parity of value with this standard, and it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to main tain such parity. "Section 2 That United States notes and treasury notes, Issued under the act of July 14, 1890, -when presented to the treas ury for redemption, shall be redeemed In gold coin of the standard fixed in the first section of this act, and, in order to se cure the prompt and certain redemption of such notes, as herein provided, It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treas ury to set apart in the treasury a reserve fund of $150,000,000 in gold coin and bullion, which fund shall be used for such redemp tion purposes only, and whenever and as often as any of said' notes shall be re deemed from said fund, it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to use said notes so redeemed to restore and maintain such reserve fund in the manner following, to-wit: "First, by exchanging the notes so re deemed for any gold' coin In the general fundi of the treasury; second, by accept ing deposits of gold coin at the treasury, or at any subtreasury, in exchange for the United States notes so redeemed; third, by procuring gold coin by the use of said notes in accordance with the pro visions of section 3700 of the revised statutes of the United States. If the Sec retary of the Treasury is unable to re Store and maintain the gold coin In tho reserve fund by the foregoing methods, and the amount of such gold coin and bullion in said fund shall at any time fall below $100,000,000, then It shall be hl3 duty to restore the same to the maxi mum sum of $150,000,000 by bor rowing 'money on the credit of the United States, and for the debt thus incurred to issue and sell coupon or reg istered bonds of the United States In such form as he may prescribe, In denomina tions of $50 or any multiple thereof, bear ing interest at the rate of not exceeding 3 per centum per-annum, payable quar terly, such bonds to be payable at the pleasure of the United States after one year from the date of their Issue, and to be payable, principal and interest. In gold coin of the present standard value and to be exempt from the payment of all taxes or dues of the United States, as well as from taxation in any form by or under State, municipal or local authority; and the gold coin received from the sale of said bonds shall first be covered Into the general fund of the treasury, and then exchanged in the manner herein before provided for an equal amount of the notes redeemed and held for ex change, and the Secretary of the Treas ury may. In his discretion, use said notes in exchange for gold or to purchase or redeem any bonds of the United States, or for any other lawful purpose the pub lic Interests may require, except that they shall not be used to meet deficiencies In the current revenues. That United States notes, when redeemed in accordance with the provisions of this section, shall be re Issued, but shall be held in the reserve fund until exchanged for gold as herein provided; and the gold coin and bullion in the reserve fund, together with the re deemed notes held for use as provided in this section, shall at no time exceed the maximum sum of $150,000,000. "Sec 3. That nothing contained In this act shall be construed to affect the legal tender quality, as now provided by law, of the silver dollar or of any other monoy coined or issued by the United States. "Sec 4. That there be established in the Treasury Department, as a part of the of fice of the Treasury of the United Staes divisions to be designated and known as - j KIMBERLEY ( N. vjBiwpnaD n ;-? u ii fir p&M&Ro iuaowfi , ffiiHASFAH x the division of issue and the division of redemption, to which shall be assigned, re spectively, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Treasury may approve, all records and accounts relating to the is sue and redemption of United States notes, gold certificates, silver certificates and cur rency certificates. There shall be trans ferred from the accounts of the general fund of the Treasury ot the United States and taken upon the books of said divis ions, respectively, accounts relating to the reserve fund for the redemption of United States and Treasury notes, the gold coin held against outstanding gold certificates, the United States notes held against out standing currency certificates, and the sil ver dollars held against outstanding silver certificates and each of the funds repre sented by these accounts shall be used for the redemption of the notes and certifi cates for which they are especially pledged and shall be used for no other purpose, the same being held as trust" funds. "Sec. 5. That it shall be the duty of the i Secretary of the Treasury, as fast as standard Rilvor rlnllnx are coined tinder course of business, and upon the cancel lation of Treasury notes, silver certificates shall be Issued against the silver dollars so coined. "Sec. 6 That the Secretary of the Treas ury is herebyauthorized and directed to re ceive deposits of gold coin with the Treas- Generals Roberts and Kltcnener are showing Paardeberg, the scene of the array and. the British forces. urer or any Assistant Treasurer of the United States in sums of not less than $20 and to Issue gold certificates therefor in denominations of not less than $26, and the coin so deposited shall be retained in tho treasury and held for the payment of such certificates on demand and used for no other purpose. Such certificates shall be receivable for customs, taxes and all public dues, and when so received may be reissued, and when held by any na tional banking association may be count ed as a part of Its lawful reserve; pro vided that whenever and so long as the gold coin held in the reserve fund of the treasury for the redemption of United States notes and treasury notes shall fall and remain below $100,000,000, the authority to issue certificates as herein provided shall be suspended; and provided further that whenever and so long as the aggre gate amount of United States notes and silver certificates In the general fund of the treasury shall exceed $60,0,C0J the Sec retary of the Treasury may. In his dis cretion, suspend the Issue of the certifi cates herein provided for; and provided, further, that of the amount of such out standing certificates one-fourth at least shall be in denominations of $50 or less; and provided, further, that the Secretary of tho Treasury may, In his discretion, issue such certificates in denominations of $10,CC0, payable to order. And section 5193 of the revised statutes of the United States is hereby repealed. "Sec. 7. That hereafter silver certificates shall be issued only of denominations of $10 and under, except that not exceeding: in the aggregate 10 per cent of the total volume of said certificates, in the discre tion of the Secretary of the Treasury, may be Issued in denominations of $20, $50 and $100; and silver certificates of higher de nomination than $10, except as herein pro- vlded, shall, whenever received at the Treasury or redeemed, be retired and cancelled and certificates of denominators of $10 or less shall be substituted therefor, and, after such substitution, in whole or in part, a like volume of United States notes of less denomination than $10 shall, from time to time, be retired and can celled, and notes of denominations of $10 and upward shall be reissued in substitu tion therefore with like qualities and re strictions as those retired and cancelled. "Sec 8. That the Secretary of the Treas ury la hereby authorized to use at his dis cretion any silver bullion In the Treasury of the United States purchased under the act of July 14, 1SB0, for coinage Into such denomination of subsidiary silver coin as may be necessary to meet the public re quirements for such coin, provided that the amount of subsidiary silver coin out standing shall not at any time exceed in the aggregate $100,000,000. Whenever any sliver bullion purchased under the act of July 14, 1890, shall be used in the coinage of subsidiary silver coin, an amount of treasury notes issued under said act equal to the cost of the bullion contained In such coin shall be cancelled and not re issued. "Sec. 9. That the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized and di rected to cause all worn and under-current subsidiary silver coin of the United States, now in the treasury, and here after received, to be recoined, and to re imburse the Treasury of the United States for the difference between the nominal or face value of such coin and the amount the same will produce in new coin, from any moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropria ted. "Sec. 10. That section. 5138 of the Re- (Concluded on Second Page.) VOTE ON QUAY CASE Does Not Prove That He WW Be Seated. THE OBJECT IN TAKING IT UP Opposition la the Senate to Puerto Rlcan Tariff Chanees Indian War Veteran Bill. tfc mi WASHINGTON. Fsb. .-Th vote tev the Senate today on tho Quay cam doe not mean that Quay will so seated. Al though his friends are very jubilant over the result, it could not bo considered a test vote, as there are men who voted against taking up the case who r?uuld probably vote, for Quay If tho question o seating him ever reaches a vote. On the other hand. It is believed that there are some Democrats who today voted to take up the ease who desire to have It dis cussed, in order to exhibit the dlfferencee in the RepuMtean party, and who will finally vote against Quay when the case is actually reached. As to reaching this ease involves another important matter. Possibly a few more piedves may be made before the conference report on tho finan cial bill to taken np, and when the con ference report Is once before the Senate neither Quay nor anybody else will be able to displace it until It Is disposed of. There is an intimation that tho debate may last two or three weehs on tho con ference report. In that event, the pres sure of other business wiH be likely to thrust Quay still further ht the back ground, and possibly no vote will be reached this session. The vote today shows that Quay has made a great many gains, and many Sen ators who voted against Corbett reversed themselves. The elaim of the Quay peo ple is that there are 53 Republicans in the Senate. Of these they say that 38 are actually for Quay and 13 against him. With the new Senator from California, 44 votes will be a majority of the Senate, and with 33 Republicans to start on, they claim that they will get enough Democrats and Silverites to seat Ma. The men from whom they expect to get the votes are Pettisrew. Stewart, Jones of Nevada, Daniel, Kenney, Clark of Mon tana, Morgan, Sullivan, McSnery, Tallla f erro and McLanrm. Out of these 11 they say they are sure to get at least five or six, and claim a clear majority of tho whole Senate. It is observed that both the Oregon Sen ators were against taking up the Quay case, Simon voting "No" and McBride an nouncing his pair with Money, but stating that he would have voted "No" if Money were presnt. Senators Oppose Puerto Riean Bill, The prediction is freely made that If the Puerto Rmo tariff hill passes the Senate the speech of Representative Littlefield and the message of President XcKlnley wiH he circulated by the Democrats, 'ho effect of which will be very disastrous to the Republican party, especially in the Congressional election elections. There still is a great deal of doubt as to what the final vote will be, but as several men who first announced their opposition are getting into line under the whip and spur of the ways and means committee, the friends of the bill have become more con fident. There is a suggestion that the poor Puerto Ricang will be compelled to pay a duty on all flour and fish products coming from the United States upon which mey rauBi nve, ana mere wm oe a re straint of the trade between the United States and the island. If the House re fuses to amend the bill, even in that par ticular, there is a possibility of such amendment being offered in the Senate, and It will probably carry. In fact, the hopes of those who want to see the Pres ident's views maintained have .received some encouragement in the Senate, as a number of Republicans of that body ex press the opinion that the Puerto Rlcan bill in its present form cannot carrj Representative Tongue had a long con ference with Secretary Root today with regard to the constitutionality of this Puerto Rlcan bill. Secretary Root assured him that he had given this bill a great deal of very earnest consideration, and felt assured that the constitutionality could not be disputed. He also quoted the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury to the same effect, anil Mr. Tongue feela assured that the opinion of the depart ments is in favor of the bill. Secretary Rfaot, who is supposed to have drafted this bill, said that he favored free trade with Puerto Rico in the end, but that for the present, and until the commerce and af fairs of the island become settled and on a firm basis, he thought that 26 per cent duty was the wisest solution of the prob lem. When the vote is taken, not only Mr. Tongue, but Representative Jones, of Washington, will In all likelihood be found voting with then party, as the latter shows distinct signs of weakening under the party whip, although his colleague re tains bis firm opposition to the bill. .The Indian War Veteraa Bill. Representative Tongue called on Speaker Henderson this morning and sought con sideration for his Indian war veteran bill. The Speaker manifested a deep interest in the measure, and consulted with the chairman of the committee, who promised to take the bill up for report In a week or so. Senator McBride and Representative Moody also spoke to the Speaker and chairman about the bill, and the result is it will be given a hearing. The outlook for its passage is brighter than ever be fore. If Bernard Moses Is selected for the Pacific Coast member of the Philippine Commission, it will cut out John Barrett, who has been quite favorably considered. The belief is general that Barrett will be one of the eoimnissioners to go to Asia to investigate Oriental trade. Schurman's Recommendations. CHICAGO, Feb. 23; President Schur man, of Cornell University, and former head of the Philippine Commission, deliv ered an address before the student body of Armour Institute today in which ho forecasted the report and recommenda tions of the committee soon to be pub lished at Washington. President Schur m&n said that he had recommended to ths President a government and constitution for the Philippines identically the same as that framed by educated Filipinos, which is practically the governmental policy out lined by Thomas Jefferson for the govern ment of tho vast territory acquired by the Louisiana Purchase. 3ar. Schurman said further he was happy to state that President MeKinley bad accepted the rec ommendations and was sending out a sec ond commission, to put tins government in operation. i a Reinsurance AdvaHelng. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. M. The rein surance oa the British snip Aasde Thomas was raised today from 4f to W per cent. The vessel is bow an dams frem CardlC for Aoapuleo.