THE MORNING OREG01STIAN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1900. CROWE IN A BURROW H9W HB SHITBRJSO HIS AKSV FR0M 9HBL& FIRE. Iera Roberts Gradually Tightened tie Corson Areaad the Boers Btflier'a Heavy Losses. LOKDOK, Feb. . If the latest dis patcher from Paardeberg threw any light on tne situation, they show that General Creole's forces have far more protection from Lord Roberts' fire th&a the first dis patches indicated. A dtopatefc from. Paar aeberg, published lit the second edition of the Daily Chronicle, dated Saturday, says. 'A balloon has discovered that the en emy is well covered by a system of bur rowing in the river bank, which resembles a rabbit warren, and affords a shell-proof position." This perhaps more than any other cir cumstance expiates why what is looked upon here as Cronje's death struggle is so prolonged. Time It will not be much of a surprise if today or tomorrow, which is the anniversary of Majuba Hill, will pass without being marked by the surrender or anafhttatton of the gallant band so overwhelmingly hemmed In. The closeness of the investment appears open to criti cism, as small bodies of Boers apparently are able to make their escape, and this fact causes comparison between the Boer method of investment, with their quickly surrounding trenches, impassable barbed wire, etc.. and those of the British. As General Cronje is reported to have plenty of food, the phut of starving him out can scarcely avail, so Roberts must either wait until his ammunition, which is said to be short, runs out, or those of Cronje' s forces who are counselling sur render prevail. So indefinite is the in formation that either of these alterna tives may occur at any moment. Mean while Lord Roberts' engineers are creep ing steadily towards the Boer laager and, according to a special from Paardeberg, ditted Sunday, the cordon is gradually draw'ng closer. Butter's march on Ladysmith Is being marked by sharp lighting. A Pieterraar ltsburg dispatch of today's date says he is still heavily engaged in battle. In OroeMer's Kloof, Butler seems to have discovered a hornets' nest. In Cape Colony the British armies are steadily advancing. Barkly Bast is now in their possession, according te a dis patch from that district, the Boers evac uating the place, retreating on Ladygray and wiring President Steyn for reinforce ments to prevent their surrender. The Pretoria Government proclaimed February X and 27 days of thanksgiving and prayer, presumably in memory of the battle of Majuba Hill. A dispatch from Klmberley says its in habitants have planned to erect a statue of Ceo 1 Rhodes, in recognition of his serv ices during the siege. General BuHer. In a dispatch from Co lenso. dated Sunday, reports that the Brit ish casualties February SO were 12 killed and 90 wounded among the Somersets and Dorset, and that February 22 and Feb ruary B, 12 officers were wounded. Gen eral Butler's death list contains the names of three. Lieutenant-Colonels Thackeray, of the First Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers; Stillwell, of the Second Royal Dublin Fu siliers, and Thoroid, of the Royal Welch Fusiliers. An additional list of the British casual ties at Paardeberg February IS is an nounced, and gives a Lieutenant and eight men killed, a Lieutenant and seven men missing and 88 men wounded. The war office today issued an additional list of the casualties sustained by the Fifth Brigade, under General Buller, Feb ruary n and 24, which Includes seven of ficers killed 2t wounded and one missing. The Loader says: ' Up titr feWtardtt? tmflfe, Cronje seems to navo hold out It is strange that he should have elected to have a citadel in a river bed with heavy rains due any day. All we have been able to do is to wound him with artillery, now nearer 70 than SO guns. The militia are now arriving at the Cape, and they will be able to release the regu lars on the lines of communication who can be pushed to Roberts', Clement's and Gatacre'8 aid. "Buller burrows forward, but the enemy around Ladyetnith is not yet In a hurry to be gone. It te rumored that Buller and Roberts are waiting to strike the final blow simultaneously on Majuba day." The Leader's expert compares the Trans vaal with Scotland and says that often armies that are broken Into guerrilla war fare may go on for months or years. BRITISH ARMY MISTAKES. Criticisms by Captain Slocum, the Military Attache. NEW YORK, Feb. 36. Important reports in regard to the operations of the British army in South Africa have been received by the War Department at Washington from Oaptain Siecum, Eighth Cavalry, military attache with the British forces. Criticisms which Captain Slocum makes of the tactics and personnel of the Brit ish have caused the department to deter mine that it would be improper to make them public and they have been filed a- ay In the Military Information Division for use by officers in their studies at the several military schools. It is knowji that Captain Slocum espe cially condemns the failure of the Brit ish to make proper reconnotesance before advancing. Me was with General Buller on the Tugeia, and says that In his first battle there, that officer attempted to cross by two drifts in plain view of the enemy with absolutely no preliminary at tempts to reoonnoiter. and that apparent ly General Buller believed he had only a small force to encounter, and would have no difficulty In brushing It aside. Failure to make proper reconnoissance, he Ktves also as the cause of the disasters sustained by the British at Magersfontein ami Stormborg. At Magersfontein. Gen- -h! Wauotesao advanced at night with his I'' trade in quarter column, to oanture a 1 MMon. Jo attempt at flanking wa ri i e The man moved forward four deep, s i mbltng over obstructions, when sud d ' a searchlight was turned upon them a' 1 thev became the target for the en ero s rifles and guns, which decimated V 'r ranks. 'fflnal Information as to the operations of tht British since the pursuit of General OTcn.i has not bean received by the War Department, but officers of the service are satisfied the dloaawrs Which have oer-tak-n the British have taught them a lesson, wh'ch they are applying in their present operations. Captain Slocum Is probably with the troops which have sur rounded General Cronje. leaving General Bullet's operations to be reported upon l officers in whom he can place confi dence Great regret is expressed by the depart ment that the British deettned to permit four officers to Knees the South African operations, as desired for R would then be possible to distribute them among the operating forces Captain Oart Reich mann. Seventeenth Infantry, is now on his way to Pretoria, and wttl Join the Boer troops, as the representative of the Amer ican TIM SABIXK IXCIDBXT. Lord Sa4ibary mxpressed Xo Regrets for It. LONDOK, ob. K.The reports that Lord SallstnMT tmd closed the Sabine Inoi dent by a fmnk expression of regret te the UMteft States Ambassador, wRh a promts that more mutton would be dis played m stopping American vessels in the future, and that he handed Mr. Cheate for mal papers on the subject, are vigorously denied at the Foreign Omee and at the United States Smbaesjr. A i Bpwomtafcm of the Associated Press lurmt that the facts In the ease are as follows: Late Saturday Mr. Choate called at the Foreign Office, when Lord Salis bury Informed him that the Government j had that day received a confirmation of j the dispatch announcing the Sabine's re- lease. In view of that. Lord Salisbury said It was not necessary to go further into the discussion. But, Instead of ex-j pressing regret, the Premier rather as-j sumed the attitude that he failed to see! how American Interests were seriously af fected. Vn naneT-jc vrn lmnrtefl tn Mr. Choate. Everything occurred verbally. British. Xaval Estimates. LONDON, Feb. 25. In Introducing the naval estimates In the House of Commons today, George J. Goschen, the First Lord of the Admiralty, said there was nothing spasmodic or sensational therein. The total, with the expected additions, he add ed, would be 50,000,003. There had been, complaints that the estimates would be sensational, but the Government realized HELIOGRAPH-COMMUNICATION THE ENEMY CANNOT CUT. h 4Wff 1&5rNml li Pfii B hL the situation, and knew the Nation expect ed the navy to be prepared for all emer gencies, and the estimates were framed on that footing. Nothing, he continued, had been put dot-, n for the mobilization of the fleet. Boer Attack Repulsed. PAARDEBERG (undated), via Modder River, Sunday evening. The Highlanders and the Yorkshires have repulsed a Boer attack. Inflicting heavy losses. It is probable that the above dispatch refers to the engagement of Friday, al ready described In tho Associated Press dispatches. POSITION OF THE COMBATANTS. The General Situation nnd Move ments -of tbc Campaign. The stubborn resistance of General Cronje has a rational explanation In the fact that he seeks to effect a Junction with the Free State force coming from Natal, and to oppose the British advance to the eastward as vigorously as possible, In or der to give time for the forces at Storm berg and Colesberg to march north and unite with the main body for the defense of the northern part of the Free State and the southwestern border of the Transvaal. The project of the -Boer campaign is that a stand "win "be made on the""Vct River, a tributary of the "Vaal River, which It en ters near Bloemhof. Between the "Vet and the Sand River, which runs east and west into the Vet a few miles aDove Hoopstad, there Is a range of hills crossed by the railway from Bloemfonteln to Johannes burg and Pretoria, where there are posi tions capable of offering a vigorous resist ance to an advance from the south. Be yond and north of the Sand River there Is a chain of hills stretching about 40 miles on either side of the railway line, which It crosses at right angles. Then comes the Valsch River, on which Kroonstad Is sit uated, and beyond It again another chain of hills, parallel to and about the same length as the other. About 50 miles fur ther on the railway crosses the Vaal; the total distance from the Vet River being ISO miles in a direct line. But any of these lines of resistance could be turned if the British should succeed in forcing any of the Drakenberg passes, like Van Reenan's Pass, from Natal, or If they made a strong movement on Pretoria from Mafeklng. The Boers are now clearly thrown on the defensive; they must soon evacuate Natal, and they cannot hope to block the Drakenberg passes indefinitely. The Boers, for four months, have had their "Innings": the decisive stroke of Lord Roberts, through General French's flying column, has thrown them on the de fensive, and It Is only a question of tlm when Lord Roberts digs out the fox he has holed at Bloemfonteln and Pretoria. The British Infantry are learning how to fight the Boers every day. Lord Roberts sees clearly that he must fight mounted riflemen with mounted riflemen of equal valor and skill. NAVAL MATTERS. Cruiser Buffalo to Be Used as a Training Ship. NEW YORK. Feb. 26. A special to tho Horald from Washington says: Orders have been Issued by Sec retary Long directing that arrange ments be made for placing the auxiliary cruiser Buffalo In commis sion. It Is expected the Buffalo will be used as a landsmen's training ship. The Topeka will also be used for this purpose to take the place of the Alliance, which will soon be relegated to the warships' boneyard. Secretary Long will approve the finding of the Board of Construction, relative to the repairs to be made to the cruiser Bos ton. When the board considered the re port of the Board of Survey on this vessel, one of Its members suggested that the ship be supplied with twin screws, be given an extra deck, and be overhauled so as to put her In first-class condition. The majority of the board came to the conclusion, however, that while the Bos ton is a very good ship, she is 15 years old, and It would be Inadvisable to spend a large sum of money on her to bring her up to date, when she will be capable of effective work by simply making the nec essary repairs and supplying her with a modem battery. It is expected the cost of her repairs will reach $400,000. Retired Merchant's Rome Bnrned. NEW YORK. Feb. 25. The residence of Robert Johnson, a retired dry goods mer chant of this City, on the Hudson, at Mount St. Vincent. N. Y.. burned today. The damage is $100,000. Johnson, who lived alone and was asleep on the top floor, es caped down a surveyor's chain, which he fastened to the window. In Jumping from the top of a storm door to the ground he wrenched his back. He crawled over half a mile on his hands and knees in the snow to the bouse of a gardener, and after telling of the Are fell unconscious. B Summers Promotion Confirmed. WASHINGTON. Feb. 26. The Senate to day confirmed the following nominations: To be Major-General by brevet Brigadier-General Harrison Gray Otis. U. S. V. To be Brigadier-Generals by brevet Colonel O. Summers. Second Oregon Vol unteer Infantry: Colonel H. C. Kessler. y First Montana Volunteer Infantry. TWO LAWFUL PRIZES supreme COURT DECISIONS IX TWO SPANISH-WAR CASES. Provisions of the Constitution of the State of Utah Uplicld Cap tain Carter's Case. WASHINGTON, Feb. 26. In an opinion by Justice Brown, the United States Supreme Court today decided the naval prize-cnoney case involving the seizure of the British steamer Ad dulla. The opinion handed down to day holds that Admiral Sampson's blockade of Guantanamo, Cuba, where the The heliotrope;, or heliograph, has- played an Important part in the Anglo Boer war since General Methuen reached the Modder River and since Buller's relieving force arrived In the neighborhood of Ladysmith. The illus tration shows Colonel Hamilton, ot General Buller's staff, operating the lit tle Instrument by which the light of the sun Is used to convey intelligence to points far distant. Communication between places 25 miles apart can be set up by ItB use. The mirror used has a small eyehole cut into the quicksil ver, through which the distant station is located. The mirror-disk is turned by means of a Morse key, and In an swering the key a dot or dash, in the way cXa long or short flash. Is sent out. Theseraashes are read by the person at the receiving end "with the ease of a telegraph operator taking a message. The heliograph was Invented in 1821 by Gauss, who used it as a signal in the measurement of angles. The longer the line the larger must be the disk. The longest line thus far ob served is 192 miles, which was observed in California, and required a mirror of 77 square inches in area. Ordinary he liotropes used on lines less than 50 miles in length are only about two square inches in area: For its successful op eration clear atmosphere is necessary. Two hours before sunset is the most favorable time. vessel was captured, was effective, and, because the voyage of the steamer was pecuniary, she was a lawful prize. An opinion waa also handed down In the case of the Spanish steamship Pan ama, sailing from New York to Havana, which was captured as a prize off Ha vana April 25, 1S9S. The vessel was car rying United States mall, but was owned by a Spanish corporation, and was under contract as a Spanish mall vessel, and carried arms as such. The court held this vessel was a lawful prize. The Supreme Court decided that the provisions of the constitution of the State of Utah, "allowing proceedings in criminal cases to be prosecuted upon the process of Information, and limiting Juries In cer tain cases to eight persons, instead of requiring the common-lanv jury of 12, were in contravention of the Federal Constitu tion. The decision was handed down by Justice Peckham, in the case of Maxwell vs. the Warden of the State Penitentiary, Maxwell having been convicted under tho provisions. Justice Harlan dissented on the ground that the provisions did not provide due process of law In felonious cases. The court denied the application of Cap tain Oberlln Carter to bring his case into that court. There was no written opinion. The court also took up the "Chatta nooga" interstate commerce case. A motion was heard in the case of the State of Illinois vs. the Illinois Central Railway on the question of the occupancy of the made land along the lake front. An effort Is being made to get the case before the United States Supreme Court The court affirmed the decision of the District Court for the State of Wash ington In the case of the United States vs. Mrs. Gue Llm and other Chinese, whom It was sought to exclude under the exclusion laws. The decision holds that they were not subject to exclusion undqr the law. All the persons affected were related to Chinese entitled to be here, and the decision of the court Is to tho effect that on- this account certificates are not necessary to entitle them to land. DHWBPS PRIZE MONEY CASE. Court of Claims Allowed Him Half That He Sued For. WASHINGTON,- Fob. 26. The United States Court of Claims today rendered an opinion on the claim of Admiral Dewey, his officers and men, for naval bounty under Bectlon 4635 of the revised statutes, for the destruction of the Span ish fleet In Manila Bay, May 1, 1898, the court holding that the claimant has- a right to recover for each person on board the enemy's ships the sum of $100. This decision is upon the basis that the Ad miral's fleet was superior to the Spanish fleet, excluding the shore batteries, the torpedoes and the mines In Manila Bay. Admiral Deweyfs claim was for $200 for each man belonging to the enemy's fleet, inciuuing tne supporting snore catteries, mines and torpedoes. The principal question Involved In the case was whether, in determining the enemy's force, the supporting shore bat teries, mines and torpedoes should be in cluded. Taking into consideration the guns at Corregldor, El Fralle and other forts at the entrance of the bay, and those at Manila and Cavlte, and the tor pedoes and mines In the bay and entrance to It, It was contended by counsel for Admiral Dewey that the enemy's force was superior to the vessels of the United States. The government insisted that the statute failed to provide for the contin gency of the co-operation of land! batteries with the naval forces destroyed, and that the court Is powerless to supply the omis sion. The court. In deciding the case, hold that the law applied only to the force of the vessels engaged' in the action, and that in this instance, taking the number and character of the vessels into account, the strength of their batteries on board and all other matters which properly go to the determination of the actual fight ing strength of the two opposing fleets, that of the United States was the su perior. It Is understood that counsel for Ad miral Dewey will take an appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States. Un der today's decision, Admiral Dewey Is personally entitled to $9570. President Adams' Condition. CHICAGO, Feb. 26. A special' to the Times-Herald from Madison, Wis., says: There Is a marked Improvement in the condition of President Adams, of the Wis consin State University, but he is not yet out of danger. a Iowa Mineworkera' Schedule. DES MOINES, Feb. 27. The Iowa Mine workers and the Mlneoperators' Associa tion met In joint conference today to con sider the schedule for the year from April 1, 1900. The prospect of trouble Is greatly diminished by this action. a B Tin Plnte Works Resnmc. PITTSBURG, Feb. 26. The Monongahe la Tin Plate Works and the Star Tin Plate Works, both owned by the American Tin Plate Company, which have been closed two months, resumed operations to day. The two employ 1000 workmen. a Will of P. T. Armour, Jr. CHICAGO. Feb. 26. The will of the late Philip D. Armour, jr., was filed for pro bate "here today. The instrument dis poses of property valued at $8,000,003 $,800,000 in personal property and the re mainder In real estate. One-third of tho estate Is left to the widow. May E. Ar mour, and two-thirds Is given In trust to three executors, for the two surviving sons of the testator, Leslie and Philip D.. m. Philip D. Armour, jr., died re cently In Pasadena, Cal. e THE FAMINE IN INDIA. Millions of Natives In Need of Im mediate Succor. Rev. C. E. Abbott, who has long been a missionary In India under the American Board, makes an appeal to the American people in behalf of the suffering thou sands In India by reason of the famine. Ho states from personal knowledge and recent private advices that men and women arc starving, children are being abandoned, and sold, cattle are dylnr by thousands, and seed is wanted at once, in order that advantage may be taken of rains when they come in July next. He says: The greatest famine In modern history is covering one-third of India with ter rible human suffering. Hundreds have already starved to death, and emaciated people are now to be seen by the thou sands. Parents aro abandoning their children in the frenzy of despair. Water for drinking Is obtained with difficulty. No grass cr water for the cattle Is avail able, and their carcasses and bones cover the country. Only three months of the famine have passed. Six months remain before the rains will bring relief. The Government Is doing all it can to save life; but the problem Is too great for even Its Iiand In Its pocket and help to feed tho perishing, or humanity will be staggered before the awful conditions that will pre vail before July. Farmers of our West gave India noble help three years ago, when you sent your trainloads of corn to San Francisco and New York, to be shipped to the starving people. Hundreds of thousands were helped, the dying were saved, the emaciat ed were strengthened to healthy lives again. It was generous, noble assistance you rendered, and the lives you saved and the suffering you diminished are your thanks today. Will you help again, now that a worse famine Is upon India than existed three years ago? Cause of the Indian Famines. Tho farmers of India depend on the reg ular rains from June to October. When the rain is normal the fertile land brings forth two crops and the millions of farm ers on their acre lots manage J.o live In comparative comfort. Millions moro of laborers manage to make in their employ a hand-to-mouth existence. When the rain falls the farmer has no food, and the laborer and petty manufacturer starve with him. The rain failed last year, and the crops were an entire failure over one third of India, Fifty millions of people are In consequence in the midst of a fam ine that for stent and ssvprltv 1r mnrn rsevere than any In the century. ajiree ana a half millions are now being fed at relief camps by the Government of India. Work of some sort Is made for them, and kitchens for free food are pro vided for those too weak to work. But not all who need help can go to relief camps. When their bodies become ema ciated they cannot walk to distant places. There are thousands of emaciated chil dren, and it is difficult to find sadder sights than babes turning into little bundles of bones, dying slowly because their moth ers can provide them no food. It Is not a matter for great surprise that at such times the mothers get desperate, and. finable to bear the pain of seeing their little ones die before their eyes, abandon them to their fate, or sell them for a few cents. IH some parts of the country it is not expected that more than 10 per cent of the cattle can be saved. There Is no grass and no water. A few thousands of cattle have been saved by sending them to the. mountains, where some pasturage can be had, but the farmers, starving themselves, have no money to buy hay broygtht from a distance, and those who have' herds of cows and buffaloes see them dying before their eyes, unable to mitigate their suffer- Llngs. Fifteen- per cent of the whole popula tion In the famine area are receiving aid. It Is expected that soon this will be tf'i crcased to one-quarter of the population,, and after that no one knows what hor-" rors await this unhappy land. The world must help, and that quickly. The gov ernment has given a promise to use the resources of the Empire to the utmost to save the people from dying. That they were doing their best is the testimony that comes from the well-informed In In dia. But the problem is getting too great even for the government. Aside from the government, the missionaries In India and their thousands of agents are the next strangest organization that can help the people, provided they are supplied with tho needed money to buy grain. Their organization is already in exist ence, and, with money In hand, can cheap ly, widely and honestly bring relief to millions of people. For this present famine haste is an all important factor. Hence money Is just now more needed) than corn, for grain suited to the people can be bought ia India by the ordinary course of trade. Money collected as quickly as possible and cabled to India, so that the very next day the missionary and his agents can be planning tho methods of wisest distribution, is the best way to help. Every day's delay now means death to some and suffering to thousands. Blow Money Is Used. The first use to which money is put is to feed those who are so emaciated that they have lost all power of self-help. Hundreds of abandoned children are now being found. They need to be fed care fully. There are families where if some of the children can be cared for the par ents can look after themselves. For those able to work some work can be provided. puch as digging a well, or making a road, the aim being to prevent pauperization. Cheap grain shops are opened for those who can live If cheap grain Is to be had. An Important help is seed. When the rains come in June the drying power of the sun is so great that the land must be plowed and the seed sown within a few days, or the seed will be wasted. If the farmers are starving now, where will they be able to get seed four months hence unless they receive a helping hand from the generous In Christian lands. A dollar will feed 20 people for a day, and will save a child's life for a month. Five dollars will keep a large family from starving for mere than a month. Ten pollars will feed more than 200 emaciated persons, and $25 will clotho 75 women Whose only garments are now turning Into useless rags; and $100 will dig a well, make a road, giving employment to a hundred people for a month or more. The best way to put money Into their hands is to send it to the treasurer of some foreign mission board having mis sions in the famine area. These are.-with addresses, as follows: Frank H. Wlggln, American Board, Congregational House. Boston; F. M. Rains, Disciples of Christ, Y. M. C. A. Building, Cincinnati; Homer Eaton, Methodist Book Concern, New York: Charles W. Hand, Presbyterian Building. New York; and Peter Donald, Reformed Church, 25 East Twenty-second street. New York. Or send to the papers that have opened famine funds, as the Congregatlonalist, of Boston; the Ad vance, of Chicago; and the Christian Her ald, of New York. Funds sent to these papers are cabled to India and are at once available for the relief of suffering. B The Climax of Absurdity. New York World. The Idea that the "American farmer," who has exported his products to the amount of $650,000,000 a year for the last five years, needs "protection" against the poor, little half-starved Puerto Ricans, whom we have just annexed to the United States, is ridiculous enough for a comic valentine. But it seems to have captured the Republican leaders in Congress and to have frightened the vacillating Presi dent into acquiescence. FIFTY. FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONNECTiCUTMUTUALLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY To the Members: Your careful attention Is asked to the itemized financial statement which accom panies this report. Each succeeding year brings to the con duct of our affairs its own varying ele ments, both of difficulty and of advantage, growing out of those general conditions which affect the outcome of the several linos of action which collectively make up our business operations. The notable adverse elements encoun tered in 1S99 were the remaining depres sion in real estate following the panic of 1893, with comparatively small demand, with fewer soles than foreclosures still, something of an Increase In the expense account ior the care and repair of fore closed properties, rents still below the nor mal scale, a very low average rate of in terest throughout the year, affecting a considerable volume of investments, and, in tho late months of the year, owing to the disturbances growing out of the former speculative financing of many cor porate interests abruptly checked by events In Europe and South Africa, a de cline in the market values of securities of the highest grade. Such a decline does not affect the intrinsic value of nor the income from these securities. But, being com pelled by law to show each year the mar ket values of stocks and bonds, marking them up when they rise in price and mark ing aown wnen they fall, the process makes that Item of our assets and that lactor in our surplus vary arbitrarily from year to year. Perhaps a fair index of the character of our holdings of this class of securities is the fact that on a cost of $22,881,457 49, there was a shrinkage in maricet value January l, isoo, as against January 1, 1S99. of only $195,49; less than 1 per cent, of their cost, but making both our assets ana surplus less by tne sum named than they would be had the mar ket prices remained unchanged. nappuy, ail the other Incldems of the year's experience havo not only been fa vorable, but some of them give hopeful promise for the future. As for many years past, the proportion of lapses and surrenders has been very small. The Company has not been put to heavy expense under the present un fortunate and unnecessary conditions of competition, to replace a large loss of old business from those causes. Without any change in standard or method. It has fur ther Increased its business in force by $2,353,636, and its premium income by $164, 328 So, and its net or ledger assets by .'570, 811 40. This Increase, though not striking ly great, is thoroughly healthy. It has not been procured at a cost which has to come out of our old policy-holders through a reduction in tneir aiviacna anu a conse quent increased cash payment by them. While the mortality in 1899 was some what larger than that in 1898 It was far within that expected by the mortality ta ble, and made a saving of $523,287. The savings from greater Interest earn ings nnd smaller expenses than are pro vided for in our calculations of premiums and reserves and from other sources, while not as largo as in some former years, have been sufficient to warrant a return of surplus during the present year on the same scale as for several years post. Surplus ns a 'Protection. For some years past the savings from interest, expenses, mortality and other wise, have slightly exceeded the amount annually returned to policy-holders. We have felt that our first duty to them in dealing with tho surplus, was to sufficient ly fortify the company against every fore seen contingency. These contingencies we have kept constantly in mind and have tried to duly estimate and guard against their possible effect. They relate princi pally to the outcome of foreclosed real estate, possible depreciation of other as sets, a tenroorary hlirh death rate, an un usual expense account, and a more or less protracted period of low interest rates. While our foreclosed real estate has in the past, taken as a whole, shown itself to be worth more than Us cost, and wc know no reason to apprehend any different ex perience in the future, we realize that while we may expect a profit in many coses, in many others we must expect, as ve have already had, more or less loss. We cannot act upon anticipations of prof its. We must wait till they are. made. But possible losses we must provide against, fhether on real estate, or on other assets, or from excessive death losses or any unusual necessary expendi ture. Against serious disturbance to the steady course of business from any or all of these causes an ample surplus Is the only sufficient safeguard, But this is not its only high function. Steadying Effect of Snrplns on Divi dends. The membership of Tho Connecticut Mu tual consists very largely of those who have been led to value life insurance as a protection to the family; and, consequent ly, they regard it as a matter of absolute personal duty. In this sober view of Its true use and Imperative importance, they realize how necessary it is to them that its cost should be made as small as pos sible, In order that for every dollar they can expend for It, their families may get as large a protection as possible. This is the end to which The Connecticut Mutual shapes every plan and method- And in order that its members may carry on their policies with the greatest ease, and cer tainty, it seeKs to give tnem not oniy tne lowest practicable cost each year, but a steady low scale of cost. In returning its surplus to its members, it long ago adopt ed a scale of distribution which takes duo and full account of Its average mortality expenses, Interest, and other sources of saving. When Its experience has been a little more favorable than that average. Instead of slightly increasing the scale of division for that year, and so using up the small excess of earnings over the average, and having to drop the next year perhaps to a lower scale, it has deemed it far more useful to its members, and of far greater assistance to them in the long run in keep ing their policies In force, to lay aside any such little excess against the day, certain to come, when the pendulum will swing the other way and there will be less sur plus saved; the accumulated gains of the past can then be used for a time at least, to still maintain the same scale of divi dend and the same low rate of cost, until, perhaps, a return of more favorable con ditions restores the former earning capa city, or, until the less favorable condi tions have become so evidently permanent that a new and lower scale of distribution becomes a measure of prudence or of ne cessity. It is for both these purposes for fortify ing the Company's financial condition against any foreseen possible adversity, and for continuing as long as possible a steady scale of Increasing dividends and consequent decreasing cost that The Con necticut Mutual has carefully husbanded the resources from its savings over and above an average scale. The wisdom of this course appears under the conditions of the last two years, when, from an un usual, and we hope, only a temporary, fall in interest earnings, no excess of sur plus above the average has been made, and when, but for such former accumula tions, a lower scale of division might have become already necessary. It la unsafe to prophesy. It is Impossi ble to make promises. It Is wrong to encourage hopes that may easily be de feated by causes beyond our control. But we are very glad that, for the present at least, while many others have found it necessary to reduce dividends, our course in the past enables us to maintain the same scale; and we aro not without hope that a favorable change In conditions may come in time to render any reduction by this Company unnecessary for some time to come. We shall do all in our power to that end. But whatever conditions may arise, they will be frankly met and you will be fully advised of their effect. Commissioner's Examinations. Every four years the Insurance Commis sioner of Connecticut is required by law to examine every company chartered by the State, verifying its accounts and assets and scrutinizing tho conduct of Its busi ness. This Company was so examined during the past year. The only point of doubt was as to the present value of our foreclosed real estate. From nls appraisals the Commissioner es timated the present value at $495,156 less than this real estate has cost on our books. The difficulty of getting a reliable appraisal In a dull niarket may be illus trated by the fact that one parcel was appraised at $45 0CO; half of it has since been sold for $45,OS0 cash, for uses which increase the value of the remainder. We have several pieces, some very valuable, which now cost us nothing. They are what remain after selHng enough to more than return the cost of the parcels of which they were a, part. None of these were appraised. Many pieces on which we may reasonably expect some gain were not appraised; some on which we may j 'ose were not appraised. The question, therefore, presented Itself: What account, if any, should be taken of the shrinkage so estimated by the Commissioner? A leaf from our own experience in these matters may be instructive: In UTS the Commissioner made an examination aad appraisal of every piece of property fore closed or likely to be foreclosed. These properties cost us $12,W7,38. The Com missioner valued them at only $K.695S76; a shrinkage of $1,999423. Out of this we have since sold lor $91S,21 74, what cost U3 $7,788,759 6S, but which tne Commission er valued at only $6,679,49 42; that is, we got $1,429,457 06 more than the Droperty cost, and $2,588,717 32 more than the Com missioners valuation. That the remain der of those properties will sell at equal advantage we do not expect. While some will make a gain, some are certain to make more or less of a loss from causes of depreciation that occurred long ago. On the other hand, the properties fore closed since 1S93 ought not to suffer any very heavy shrinkage. We do not know why, as a whole, they are not worth their cost. We carry our foreclosed real estate on our books at Its original cost. We cannot tell what It is worth until we sell It. Hav ing always had proven reasons for believ ing it worth its cost as a whole, we have never by appraisals anticipated either gain or loss. We have taken each as it came. We could not In Justice to ourselves mark some pieces down to an appraisal without mancing others up to an appraisal. This would cause annual changes in book val ues based on mere changing opinion in stead of the actual Investments, with a constant temptation at least to mark up rather than down. Our present method we do not deem it wise to change. But. in order to give fair recognition to the fact of a probable loss on some of the foreclosed properties and the uncertain amount of gain on others, and. In view of our ample surplus, the office of which, in part, is to protect us against such a con tingency, we have decided to add 50 per cent, to the shrinkage estimated by the Commissioner, making a sum in round numbers of $750,000, and, for the present carry that as a memorandum liability under the title of "Contingent Real Es tate Depreciation Account. ' It does not affect tho actual value of our property. Providing against a possible loss which cannot be measured till It comes, does not cause a loss. This leaves our accounts undisturbed, while it relieves our sur plus of what might otherwise, in view of the Commissioner's estimate, be regarded as possible padding wkh uncertain values. So long as it is deemed expedient to car ry this item of provisional liability, tho balance of it, deduotlng any losses made on soles, will be shown each year. The Amount of Snrplns. The surplus, December 31, 1S99, was $7,208,341 59, by our own standard of sol vency, which is much higher than the le gal standard, the latter being based on the assumption of earning 4 per cent, annual Interest On all business written since April 1, 1SS2, wo calculate our HablHty on the assumption of earning only 3 per cent. Interest. This makes our reserve liabil ity higher and our surplus lower by $2,104, 70i, than they would be were that busi ness based on the legal 4 per cent, stand ard. In which case the surplus would stand at $9,813,044 59. For greater future safety, tho Company voluntarily carries a reserve $2,104,7u3 greater than that re quired on business based On the legal standard. Real Estate Sales. During 1899 we sold for $640,640 33, fore closed properties that had cost $551,949 40. On some of the pieces there was a loss of $13,239 95; on the rest there was a gain of $101,930 88. leaving a net gain of $88,690 93. It was throughout a dull year for real es tate. To December 31, 1S89, the net gains on real estate sales from year to year aggre gated $1,808,135 44. Property Purchased. The present home office of tho Company was built 30 years ago, with little antici pation In plan and accommodation for the great Increase in the work of coming years, In which we have lohg been put to great inconvenience and disadvantage. An opportunity offered to buy an adjoining piece of land well suited to connect with tho present building. We shall probably Improve It during the year by a plain but substantial and thoroughly modern office building, giving us needed space and con venience, and to tenants attractive busi ness quarters. Tbc Signs of the Times. It Is with no little satisfaction that we note In some of our competitors the dawn of a long-deferred recognition of the vital Importance of some of those things which The Connecticut Mutual has all along In sisted were essential to safety, essential to the just Interpretation and administration of the mutual principle, and essential to the best and permanent welfare of those beneficiaries for whom alone life insur ance is designed, and(or whom it should1 have a single eye. i Others Adopting the Connecticut Bin. Trial's Interest Assumption. Tho Judgment which led us IS years ago to anticipate the great fall In Interest rates and to provide against Its effect by then assuming a 3 per cent, rate, was de cried as a counsel of timidity and weak ness. That assumption has given us in comparable strength, with great advan tage to the business based on the 3 per cent, rate, and without cost to the older 4 per cent, business; and the relations between the two have been self-adjusting. The day foreseen having come, most of the companies are forced to change their assumption, and some of the largest find themselces with a vast amount of busi ness on the 4 per cent, basis, about which there Is an appearance of anxiety, for the 4 per cent, reserves on it are being rein forced by heavy appropriations thereto from surpluses accumulated from and supposed to be held for future division among the various Tontine or Investment schemes. Growing: Alarm nt the Expense Ac count. One of the strangest developments In life insurance in the last 25 years has been the increase in its expense account. While that of every other enterprise and indus try has been studiously watched and pruned at every possible point, and its re duction has been a prime and permanent aim of management, not only as a means of greater profit to the business, but as a necessity in meeting competition by great er cheapness, the expense account in life insurance has gone the other 'way. The competition has not been by way of less oning cost, secured by prudence and econ omy. Those companies have secured and are securing the most new business which have made their insurance cost their policy-holders most, and are making it cost most today. Tho attractions they adver tise to the general public are not those methods of close, economical management which produce the best results to the fam ily at the least cost to the premium-payer the most real protection for the least money but their enormous increase of the amount at risk. And to secure this In creaso tho attraction they offer to the in dividual is not the simplest and most com plete protection possible for his family at the smallest cost to himself which can be achieved by prudent management, but some scheme by which if he leaves all the margins on premiums and Interest and reserves In the control of the com pany for 15 or 20 years and subject to for feiture If he dies or lapses within the period, he. is admitted to a speculation in what others may forfeit meantime should he live and pay through. How Volume Is Secured. It is tho estimates and illustrations of these speculations on which their business has been secured. It is by hiring tens of thousands of agents at enormous com missions and bonuses and allowances to press upon men theBe speculations In the protection of their own families that they have won magnitude. But their policy holders are, in consequence, paying more on the average for their insurance by $20 to $30 on every $100 of premium paid, than are those of The Connecticut Mutual. But as the cost of a policy Is the difference between the premium charged and the surplus returned, and the schemes of these companies postpone all returns of surplus for 15 or 20 years, the greater and actual cost of their policies is concealed from their policy-holders during all that time. It 's only when they fall out by the way. or when the settling day of the spec ulation comes, and it is seen as has al ways been the case how much less than the esttmato or Illustration the result is, that it Is realized how dear has been the bargain. One great company has in the last 15 years about doubled: its expense ratio and halved Its returns of surplus to its mem bers on the older and nonspeculatlve plans. But it is keeping up in the race for magnitude so far. The Chances of Reform. But now one of the greatest of the racers announces that its Directors have decided that its officers have been paying too much; that the business has been forced; that, however much they may write in tins way, they lose nearly as much; that It to increasingly difficult to buy new business faster than the old drops out, and that after all it Is onl tk hnrlnnnn thai sfmint thot t .-.v. x... tag, although that is one of the compa- who go out tor the speculation- fund of nave twn i.i-btiv aen un few iK. r r.T, necessary to get new business enough to ""I" tumntxx. ii ovw wn yei appear wnjr will be the outcome of this more pruden: or may be done about the expenses, othe- itrwuv uuogB jKfave snown preciy conclu sively that the Company has, at present. method of competition, except that of iusu pa.jr o asvnis, . win oe aoopiea i prevent falling behind remains to be seen. It is much to have tne truth acknowl- Its management may rtee to all the prac- um i-wunige t ns new cqutkuoob. so steadily contended for by The Con- necueuc j&utuat tnug at met contested by one of Its severest and long-time crit ics. Another Possible Reform. That same Company is also rendering a tribute to the principle of life insurance for the use of tne family rather than as a scheme for the personal pront or conven ience of the policy-holder. It has an nounced Its recognition of the fact that the policy-holder can t use up bis policy without nls family losing it. To the attraction ot a policy which lota the man into a personal specukuioa in tho losses of others (and of others in his losses), the racers are adding tho agree ment to loan blm all or even more than the reserve on bis policy, a feature which consistently completes the purely personal and speculative view by watch they araw men by self -interest rather than by lead ing them to plain but unselneh duty Na doubt It is agreeable to many men to think they can borrow at will for their own. con venience and put up their policy as col lateral. There must be few, who, in cold blood, would do it If they could really in fore-vtelon put themselves In the place of the widow coming with her dependent flock, with hope in her heart for them, to realize tho promise in her policy, ana unexpectedly receiving in Its fulfillment but a fraction of that which will clothe and feed, and for the rest the canceled note which has served the personal con venience of the husband and father. Few officers of companies can really desire to face such disappointing settlements, such-heart-breaking failures of promised pro tection at the saddest crisis of stricken lives. Yet few hesitate to compete for business by offering to do it. While it has not pointed out the limitations upon this practice, the company referred to has emphatically declared that it may be and is being carried too far. The "Unchanging: Facts. Time is slowly demonstrating to those who would fore the growth of their com panies by other theories, that the only true use of life Insurance is the protection of the family; that any other use of it can be had only by the more or less complete destruction of its protective value, that the working expenses of It, even reduced to the lowest terms by which safe and true men can be employed in its promo tion, are so much greater than those of any other instrumentality for the invest ment and care of other people's money that no one can legitimately afford to use It or any of the schemes offered in its name, for personal profit or convenience. There can be no profit in it to one whlrh does not come from the greater loss of another; there can be no personal con venience which does not cost far more than it 1b worth or which could not be had at less cost in another way. It is slower building. It is harder work. It is less showy on the surface, to per suade men to take life insurance at its own value only, as the only wholly compe tent means of doing their unselfish but im perative duty to their dependent ones, and with all Its details adjusted to their most complete and abiding protection, asking for one's self only that the cost of this duty shall be made as small as possible by a prudence as careful and conscien tious as the duty is sacred. But the work so done endures. It disappoints ne'the? those who trust it nor those who pay its cost. The road to the highest results is not along the lines of least resistance, nor Is it much thronged with those who applaud. But -the truth remains and re turns. And genuine conviction of and loy alty to sound principle are the moat en during basis, and the strongest binding tie, ot human institutions. The Operations of Flfty-fenr Yean. In the 54 years of its work The Con necticut Mutual has received: For rexraums....$aMStgf For interest 9i.9tLM 08 For rents S,mm Bal'nce profit and loss l.mjmn Total receipts $M,42,968 73 It has paid death claims for $Mt,lK,g 78 Endowments and annuities for... M,5i,W7 For surrendered policies 3M86,W1' For dividends.... ,7W,2W H A total return to policy holders or their beneficia ries, being 97.37 per cent, of tho entlrepremlums received $M,12S,tte "H It has paid for expenses 26,92,818 38 Taxes H,M7,3?t "- Total expenditures $M8,0ff,0i9 83 Bal. net assets. Jan. 1. JAM. $ 88,377,378 9$ It has additional assets (see statement) 3,266,090 68 Total assets $ 64,583,939 61 Almost 93 per cent of the premiums paid by policy-holders have been paid over to their beneficiaries or returned to them. What has been, so returned and what is held for the protection of present policy holders as net or ledger assets (saying nothing of $2,2OS,e09 68 additional assets) aggregates $261,508,888 87; 127.57 per cent, of the total premiums received. These results have been accomplished at an average expense rate of only 8.3 per cent. It is an unmatched record; and Tho Con necticut Mutual is as thoroughly prepared for the good work of the future as it has at any time been for that of its unequaled past. Respectfully submitted JACOB L. G-RUHNB, FresWient Hartford, February 13, 1808. Passports. Chicago Tribune. Americans who are going to Paris and who expect to travel ia Europe will find It convenient to gat a passport before leaving this country. Passpocte east only be Issued by the Secretary1 of State at Washington, and can be obtained only by citizens of the United States. Bach per son desiring a passport must present & -written application ha tho form, of an af fidavit to the Secretary of State, properly attested by an officer empowered to ad minister oaths. The applicant must give his name, place of birth, his occupation and place of per manent residence, and must declare that he goes abroad temporarily' and Intends to return to the United States with the pur pose of residing andt performing' the duties of citizenship therein. Unless born in thie country, he must also take the oath of allegiance to the United States, and his application must be indorsed by one wit ness. He must accompany his appHcatioft by a personal description, giving his age, height, color of eyes and hair, shape of forehead, nose, chin, mouth and face and kindi of complexion. He must also accom pany his application with a fee of $1. Marched ia Opposite Bireotloas. Philadelphls, Record. Senator Jones, of Nevada, in his despair of free silver, has come around in favor of fiat currency. Strange to say, this is the same Jones who once boasted of his influ ence with President Grant In helping to secure the veto of the $808,8G&OA green back bill. Since that time the count rv and Senator Jones appear to have marched in opposite directions on the money ques tions. As evidence of it. Congress is about to paas a bill that will make very difficult a reversion to either tho greenbackery of Senator Jones or the free silver of Mr. Bryan. A Democratic Ylew of Maeram. Louisville Courier-Journal. Whatever may be thought of Jaaerum's long statement. It is very eloar that if t is to be aeoepted as testimony tlua he la not a coward It must be taken as proof that ho is a fool. It would be Impossible to recall any motaneo hi wMca an adult American hi a similar position has mads such a spectacle of himself. I