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