THE MORNING OREGQNIAN, UO&DAY, DECEMBER 10, 1900. NO CHANGE OFWORK Programme in Senate Will Be Same as Last Week. CANAL BILL TO BE SIDE TRACKED Establishment of Ship Subsidy, ns Regular Order Displaces It This Measure and Hay-Pnunccfote Treaty Will Occupy Time. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. The Senate will continue to give ila attention to the Hay-Pauncefote treaty and the ship sub sidy bill during the present eek, taking up first one and then the other as may suit the convenience of those who may wish to speak on the two measures. Dur ing the last session of Congress the Nica ragua Canal bill was made the special order of business for Monday next, but the establishment of the ship bill as the regular order will have the effect of dis placing the canal bill, preference being given under the Scnato rules to a regu lar order over a special order. It la un derstood that Senator Morgan, who has charge of the canal bill, will not press that measure until the treaty for the ab rogation of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty Is disposed of. On this account, the friends of the ship bill do not appre hend that he will make any opposition to the continuance of the consideration of that measure. He has, indeed, said that he would be content to allow his bill to follow closely in the wake of the ship bill. Three or four Senate speeches are prom ised in opposition to the subsidy bill, and it Is expected that most. If not all of these already in sight will be made dur ing this week. Among those who prob ably will speak on the subject are Sena tors Clay, Vest and Berry, all of whom oppose the bill. Senator Vest is an es pecial advocate of free ships. There are differences of opinion as to what effect the taking of a vote on the fortification amendment to the treaty will hare upon the time of disposing of that instrument, but a majority of the Sena tors express the opinion that the vote upon the treaty itself will follow very eoon after the vote upon the amend ment. The Indications are that the amendment will be adopted and as thus amended the treaty will be ratified. Op ponents of the treaty "will offer other amendments, but they do not count upon having them favorably acted upon. The Senate will not sit Wednesday on account of the centennial celebration of "the establishment of the seat of gbvern "ment at Washington, and there is a post sibillty of adjournment from Thursday until Monday of next week ix the house:. Reduction of War-Tax and Appro priations Bills Will Likely Pass. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. The pro gramme in the House for the coming week contemplates the consideration and passage of the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill and the bill for the reduction of the war revenue taxes. Wednesday will be dies non. so far as legislation is concerned, as on that day the exercises in connection with the centennial celebration, of the removal of the seat of government to Washington .. will be. h$d in the .House. , y s. The legislative.' appropriation. oili is not lexpected to consume more lhan two Nlays at-most, probablyonly one, and the .leaders xpect, that, the "remainder of the eek will suffice to pass the war revenue - kirreduetIon act. It la nrobable that sneclal Interests which do not; receive the consideration of the bill, which they think they are entitled to, will attempt to amend it. This Is especially true of the brewing in terests, which hope to secure a. further reduction of the tax on beer from $1 CO, a barrel as fixed by the, committee, to $1 35 a barrel. A plan has been organ ized by which these Interests believe they can accomplish their purpose. In order to secure this reduction, which will amount to about $7,000,000. that amount of .revenue must be attained and those members who are working for a further reduction on beer will advocate the retention of the tax on bank checks and discounts which amounts to about the same sum. It is understood that many of the targer banks are not op posed to the retention of 'this tax on the ground that It reduces the number of small checks presented for payment and thus reduces the cost of the clerical force in the banks. Most of the Repub lican members of the ways and means committee do not helleve a successful fight can be waged against any feature of the committee's bilk AGAINST THE XEGRO. DeleKote Wilcox Opposes Importa tion to HnvrnH. HONOLULU, Nov. 30. Statistics of im migration for the past few months show that there is a considerable movement of Orientals away from the Islands. During the jAst.ttiree months, the departures of Japanese'iSr Japan have exceeded the ar rivals by over 700, and over 400 more Chi nese have gone home than have comb her. The steamship Aorangl, from Vic toria, this week, brought the first lot of laborers that have been received here for some time. They are Italians. Only 80 were in the lot, but it is understood that more will come if these make a favor able report . , The question of getting negro labo from the Southern American States is bo lng warmly discussed. There is great op position to importing negroes Jn some quarters. Delegate Wilcox has declared himself strongly opposed to it, and he will work against it. He declares that If negroes are brought here it moans the end of the Hawaiian race. This city has just passed through the heaviest rain storm experienced In many years Five and a half inches of rain fell In 12 hours on the night of November 25, and the result was some large floods In the residence districts. The bark St. Katherine arrived here day before yesterday from San Francisco, having been SO days making the trip. As a result of the slow journey, she lost 120 hog?. which wera overcome by heat and died on the way. The brig W. G. Irwin and barkentine Planter have also arrived after equally long trips. All the vessels report an absence of trade winds. Hawni' has celebrated for the last time the day known to Hawaiian history as Independence day. It Is November 2S, on which date, 75 years ago. England and France entered into a mutual treaty rec ognizing the Hawaiian Nation and agree ing to respect it as independent. This fol lowed after the cession of the islands to Great Britain upon demands made by the Lord George Paulet, and the subsequent restoration of the monarchy by Admiral Thomas. When the Legislature meets it will probably abolish the holiday. GOOD CHANGE FOR ARMY. Post Exchange System Promotes Health and Morals of Soldiers. WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. A report of General J. C Breckinridge, Inspector General United States Army, to the Lieu-tcnant-Gencral commanding the Army. orges an increase of the Inspector-General's Department, In order to put it on a moro efficient basis, and also calls at tention to the uncertain and lamperlnjs? effects of dtalle$ instead of .permanent, officers in that department. . turtjnr- chanter of the report i de- voted to conditions In the Philippines, set ting forth the Initial lack of a properly organized system of land transportation in the islands, and scarcity, of well equipped pack trains, ana Improvements effected in those conditions.' "The evolution of the Army ration" is dwelt upon at some , length. General Breckinridge also touches upon the suc cess which sugar and sweets have at tained as a part of the soldiers food, especially in the tropics. The success that has attended the establishment of post exchanges at garrisons throughout the country is noted, and it is stated that the consensus of opinion in the Army generally Is that the present exchange promotes the morals, temperance, disci pline and health of the men. as compared with the former Tegime. Sales of liquor are confined to soft drinks, beer and light -wines, a radical departure from the old system; when whisky was one of the articles Issued by the Subsistence De partment. Fees, in Indian Liquor Cases. WASHINGTON, Dec. 9. Representative Jones, of Washington, has Introduced a bill, general In character, which provides that where Indians are summoned as witnesses to give testimony in cases where charges are brought against individuals or other parties for selling intoxicating liquors on Indian lands, such Indians shall bo entitled to mileage and other costs only when they aro In no way incrimi nated. Such Indians as have purchased liquors under these conditions, or have furnished other Indians with money for making such purchases, will be cut olt from this allowance. The bill, however, provides that all Indians, Incriminated or not, shall be obliged to give testimony whon called upon. To Amend Pension Lairs. WASHINGTON, Dec 9. Representative Jones, of Washington, Is seeking to amend the pension laws by lifting from the soldiers the necessity of proving that the disability for which they seek pen sions did not exist prior to their enlist ment. His bill on this subject provides that In all cases where the services of a soldier were accepted, and he was mus tered into the Army, no further ques tions should be asked concerning his physical condition prior to enlistment. In many cases the soldier of the Civli War has been prevented from securing a pension because of his inability to prove that his disability did not exist prior to his enlistment. Otis Not Looking for Position. WASHINGTON. Dec 9. It can be defi nitely and authoritatively stated that the report that General Harrison Gray Otis is In Washington seeking an official ap pointment is without foundation or fact General otis hlmseir is authority for the Statement that he has not ntinllpri fnr any appointment whatever under the Ad ministration. He is not in Washington on an office-seeking mission, and declares mat mere is no warrant whatever for the published statements to the. contrary, as the Los Anceles Times eniracen his en tire attention. SIX-DAY BICYCLE RACE. Sixth Annual International Contest Opened Today in NeTr.Yorlc NEW YORK, Dec 10. The sixth annual international six-day bicycle race at Madison-Square Garden was started at midnight tonight, before over 6000 people. The race Is held under the auspices of the American Bicycle-Racing Association, and 14 riders of international reputation began the 142 hours' grind- They repre sented as many pairs who will race for the six days as teams. No man will oe allowed to ride on the track more than 12 hours in any day. but the two men In teach team, may relieve one another at any time that suits them. At the end of the six dayB Tacing 54000 In prizes will be distributed among the riders. Long before Soclock the crowds began arriv ing at the garden, and by the time the pistol sent tho men off on their journey the seats around the track and the great space Inside the rail were filled. The track this year is banked very steep, and is several feet higher at the outside than that of last year. The management saw fit to do this in order to prevent "loaf ing," which was much in evidence at the previous races. This will make the race much faster continually, but probably will cause many spills. Following are the pairs who were count ed In time to start in the race, the man first mentioned In leach pair being the one who started first for the team: C. W. Miller, Chicago, and Robert Wal thour, Atlanta: Hugh McLean, Scotland, and. Arthur McLean, Scotland; Oscar Aronson, Sweden, and Oscar Babcock. New York; W. C. Stlnson, Boston, and Frank Waller, Germany; John Dubois, Brocton, and Lloyd Krebs, Newark; Harry Elkes. Glens Falls, and Floyd Mac Farland, San Jose. Cal.; Harry Bloecker, Brooklyn, and Frank Albert; Jean Gou gpltz, France, and Caesar Slmmar, France; Karl Klser, Germany, and Fritz Ryser. Germany; Rudolph Miller, Italy, and H. Aucoutrlor, Italy; Charles Tur vllle, Philadelphia, and Louis Glmm. Pittsburg; T C. Colgan. Trenton, and Dlckerson; Burns Pierce, Boston, and Archie McEachern, Toronto. The Law son brothers, John and Gus, sent their entry In too late, and did not start. Frltschka and LIngenfelter, the German team; Maresca and Sassard, the Italian team, and Nlkoden and Hoffman, the Ber lin team, failed to qualify, and were not allowed to start. Speed will be the chief factor In the race, for among the men are Harry Elkes, the world's middle-distance cham pion; Stlnson, who recently rode more than 40 miles In an hour; Floyd MacFar lapd, the handicap king, and Jean Gou goltz, the swift Frenchman. To offset these men's, brilliant rushes to tho front, the slower ones will have to use all the generalship at their command, and during the week there will be many an interest ing moment A man who falls Is lost, for the pace probably will never drop below 14 or J5 miles an hour. ' Shortly after the start the men showed speed. The first lap was made with Elkes in the lead, followed by Stlnson, Miller, Aronson, Gougoltz, Dubois and Turville In the order named, with the rest wen bunched. With tho enthusiasm at Its height, Gougoltz, on the -seventh lap, broke into a wild spurt and gained 30 feet on -Elkes. The latter and Stlnson, by a spurt, caught up with him, but Gougoltz held the lead to the jend of the first mile, which he made n 2:29 3r5. The score at 2 A. M. was: Elkes and MacFarland, 49.2; Simmar and Gougoltz, 49.2; Pierce and McEachern, 49.2; Babcock and Aron son. 49.1; Waller and Stlnson. 49.1; Miller and Walthour, 49.1; Frederick and Fisher, 49,1; Colgan and Dlckerson, 49.1; Dubois and Krehs, 49; Klser and Ryser, 49; Muller and Aucoutrlor. 49; McLean and McLean, 49; Albert and Bleecker, 4S.9. GOVERNMENT COTTON " CROP Report That It Had Been Offered In Advance Confirmed. NEW YORK. Dec9.-A. story to the effect that the Government cotton crop, which will be made public tomorrow, has been offered tq certain cotton brokers in this city in advance, received corrobora tion today. Frank B. Guest, head of a cotton commission-house, sild tonight that advance Information was offered to him Saturday. He immediately notified President Hubbard, of the Cotton Ex change. The latter asked for a detailed statement, which was given, and this is to be used as a basis for FedeYal In vestigation. President Hubbard said to night that he would so to Washington without delay and place the entire mat ter before the proper authorities. TO CURE A COLD IN OXE DAY, Talcs Ltx&tlre Brotno-Qolnlae Tablets. All drurciiU refund the money tr It tails to cure XL "a. Coa Blcaaxur Is oa i rft hex- 96c. OUR POSTAL SERVICE POSTJLYSTER-GEXERAL'SSnTH SUB MITS ANNUAL REPORT. Greatly Reduced Deficit Is' Shoivn ..i iJoa-Jt Hint Free Rural De livery Is- Here- to Stay. WASHINGTON, Dec 9. Postmaster General Charles Emory Smith has sub mitted his annual report to the President. In It the financial operations of the de partment for tho last fiscal year are shown briefly in the following statement of revenues and expenditures: Ordinary postal revenue $100,899,433 Receipts from money order busi ness 1,455,143 Receipts from all sources $102,334,573 Total expenditures for the year.. $107,740,267 Excess of expenditures over re- ceipts $ 5,3S3,6o9 The deficit for the year 1S93-1900 Is shown to be $l,223,OSS less than the previous year. The estimated postal revenue for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1902, Is $116,033, 012, and the estimated expenditure 512L 276,349. leaving a probable deficiency of $4,634,307. Rural free delivery, the report says, has proved to be "the most salient sig nificant and far-reaching feature of the postal development." Besides swelling the postal receipts, the value of farms are enhanced, through the necessity for good, roads and the oppor tunity afforded the farmer to keep abreast of the times by being put in closer -communication with the outside world. The isolation and monotony which has been the bane of country life is sensibly miti gated through the effect of rural free delivery In placing the farm within daily range of the Intellectual and commercial activity of the world. The farmer is also given cause to feel that he shares tha governmental advantages of the towns man, which stimulates his loyalty and patriotism. 'JWith all these results clear ly indicated by the experiment as thus far tried," says the Postmaster-General, "rural free delivery is plainly here to stay." Of the 21,000,000 of people scattered over LO0O.0O0 square miles of territory, to whose doors it is the task of the Government to arrange to carry the mails through rural free deliveryt Postmaster-General Smith says that by the end of the cur rent fiscal year one-sixth of them shall have been served and 4300 routes In op eration. The net annual cost of a com plete rural free delivery system is esti mated at $13,782,224. On this point the report says: "It will hardly be disputed that the great result of carrying the postofflce to ever)' home. If It can be accomplished at such comparatively small cost, is an ob ject well worth undertaking. "This duty is emphasized and enforced when we consider some other phases of the postal question. In my last annual report it was shown that if a class of publications which now, under an evasion of the purposes of the law, pay the second-class rate of postage, were really made to pay the third-class rate, as they ought to do, it would bring an additional revenue to the Government of $12,313,612. The cost to the Government of this abuse Is almost exactly equivalent to the esti mated, cost of broad National rural free delivery, and if It is a question between favoring a very limited number of pub lishers and favoring 21,000,000 of people who live on the farms of the United States, there ought to be no hesitation in serving the many rather than the few. The abuse should be uprooted as a public duty; the National delivery should be un dertaken as a public policy, and when, through the overthrow of the wrong, the right can be established without the slightest additional "burden, the appeal be comes Irresistible." The effort to eradicate the: abuse of thel ru-mfnl nrnvlslofis for second-class mail matter, the Postmaster-General assumes, Is not made in order "to change the pol icy of the present law or to abridge the privileges it confers upon the regular and legitimate publications for the dis semination of public intelligence." But instead, says the report, "it is only sought to cut oft the abuses which the law never contemplated, and which have crept in through the ambiguity of Its provisions, or through doubtful interpretations that have opened a wide door for wrongful en tries. It is aimed at the serial paper covered books at the private 'house or gans,' at the spurious trade Journals and Eheets of an exclusive advertising char acter: at bulk distribution which is false ly called subscription, and at the re peated turn and overturn by news agents of unsold periodicals. There Is no ob jection to serving these purely private enterprises through the malls, but there Is no reason why the Government should carry them at the second-class rate of 1 cent a pound, involving a dead loss to It, of millions of dollars a year, when other articles of the same kind rightfully pay the third-class rate of S cents a pound." The Postmaster-General says some ad vance has been made in wiping out the abuse above referred to. Tho report says that the postal service In the new Island possessions of the United States has been materially ad vanced and strengthened. "Unfortunate ly," says the report, speaking of Cuba, "its administration was stained for a time by frauds and peculations of the most shameful character. But this was the crime of the agent, and not any fault of the system. The system was such that the frauds and peculations could not have been committed by any one official, however dishonest. They were made poaslble only through the collusion of officers who should have been a check on each other, apd who entered Into a conspiracy by which the safeguards de pendent on a careful plan of -checks were thrown down. When the facts were brought to light, Immediate action was taken to right the wrongs and arraign the wrongdoers. The offense of those Im plicated was more than infidelity to the confidence reposed in them and more than ordinary malfeasance in office. Its turpi tude was enhanced by the fact that it was the betrayal of a trust held for a people who were our wards, which car ried peculiarly sacred obligations, and It merits the severest condemnation. The cases have passed to the custody of the courts, and early trial is expected." The Improvement of the last few years in the money-order system has been con tinued and even enhanced, says the Postmaster-General, and free delivery ex tended. The report of the Second Assistant Postmaster-General is cited to show the in crease In the number of routes over which mail Is transported, and the good effects to the service of the order of last Feb ruary prohibiting the consideration of bids for star rotite contracts, where the "bidder resided off of the route he was bidding for. A reasonably satisfactory mall service Is being furnished the people of Alaska, and the number of complaints Is surpris ingly small. Arrangements have been mad for weekly service over the two overland routes- Senator Kuykendall's Objections. Junction Times. By request Senator Kuykendall has a very interesting communication in The Oregonlan relative to the primary sys tem of nominating officers. We are in favor of the primary system, provided It can be so arranged that the object of the law will be served. We have worked under the primary system in two different states, and the objections advanced hy the Senator in regard to population Centers did not obtain there. Usually the county scat had so many candidates that the ones from the outside were successful. However, when the vast territory of Lane is considered, its two mountain ranges and raging rivers, the Senator's objections are entitled to serious consideration. The wishes of the people should be first served, and while county conventions are enjoy able, a sort of reunion" of enthusiastic followers. It has Its objections. Delegates Will pool issues and sometimes the ticket Is simply, to a certain extent, a pyramid of swaps. The majority of the people of Oregon, irrespective of party, are in fa vor of electing United States Senators by a direct vote, and why not nominate "by a direct vote? It Is a poor rule that will not work both ways. LET THE GOVERNOR APPOINT The County Assessors Ml&rat Do Their Duty Impartially. SALEM, Or., Dec . (To the Editor.) The rivalry among the several counties of. the state as to which shall pay the legist proportion of state taxes is fast ap proaching the acute stage. Prosperity has been proclaimed through out the country for tho past four years, actually exists at present, and bids fair to continue for some time to come; yet the assessment rolls of the different coun ties show constant depreciation in prop erty values. Had the breezy Nebraskan known this, he might have made better use of It as a campaign Jeremiad than be did of the negro clause la -our state con stitution. Not content with tho efforts of the As sessors to reduce valuations, some of the county authorities, seeing the depreda tion (?) of, property In other counties, as reported to the Secretary of State, have hastened to moke an additional horizontal reduction, of a certain per cent on values before making returns to the state offi cers. At this juncture comes the eloquent Senator from Clackamas County with a bill printed in The Sunday Oregonlan of December 2, and to be introduced at the next session of the Legislature, pro viding for the election of Assessors in several districts in each county. It is the abandoned project of precinct Assessors in a new dress, Tho proposed measure will not rem edy existing obnoxiqus conditions, but wUl tend to aggrevate them. Whereas, the contest to escape state taxes Is non carried on among the counties, under tho scheme above mentioned it will be con tinued and multiplied among different sections of each county. Now the re sponsibility for the present state of af fairs ia divided among 33 County As sessors, while the proposed law would scatter it among a much large number of Individuals, none of whom would feel the weight of It enough to control him in any great degree. Carried to Its logical conclusion, the process would soon make tho payment of etate taxes scarcely more than a voluntary contribution, when the mendicant state should ask alms. Of course all taxation Is more or lees odious. It is and always will be human nature, la bodies politic as well as In natural persons, to avoid taxes and try to impose them upon others. The vice of tho present system is that the state is made to suffer in its revenues from this ever-present condition without the least power to control it. The late State Board of Equalization had many demerits, but it had the merit of being a step toward giving the state some control over the valuation of property for the purposes of state taxation. Unless the preBent sys tem of listing and valuation is reversed or otherwise greatly improved, direct tax ation for state purposes will have to be abandoned and the state revenue raised by some scheme of Indirect taxation probably by an enlargement of the sys tem of 'licenses now in use as to in surance companies, medical practitioners and other occupations; If the state Is to raise revenue by di rect taxation, it should, by Its own offi cers, directly list and value the prop erty to be taxed. It is idle for the state to prescribe the rate of taxation with out having at the same time the power to fix the value to which the "rate is to be applied In computing the amount of taxes to be collected. If you will allow me to fix the value Of my taxable property, as my County Assessor does now. I will give you. tacting tor the state, free rein to fix tho rate of state taxation. As you increase the rate I wll decrease my val uation, perhaps to the vanishing point. To establish the rate, to enumerate the objects of taxation and to fix their yalues are three elements necessary to the Just -and proper exercise of the power of raising the public revenue. For state purposes they should never be separated in execution but should all be controlled by state authority. Instead of diffusing responsibility Into infinitesimal parts as the proposed law would do, to the detriment of the public service, authority ought to be lodged with the Governor to appoint assessors for each county or. perhaps better, for each of certain specified kinds of property In cluding all that should be taxed. Each assessor should be appointed with reference to his qualifications to Judge of the value of the property he is to as sess and should be, as far as possible, disinterested in the result of his work. The responsibility for equal and uniform taxation would be centered In the Gov ernor and could not be avoided or trans ferred to another. The result would cer tainly be beneficial. It could not be worse than present conditions. G. H. B. SLOAN WANTS NO MOUNTS Will Not Ride in America Until He Clears Standing In England. CHICAGO, Dec 9. Jockey Tod Sloan declared hero today that racing associa tions of America need not prepare to re fuse him a license to ride; that he does not Intend to ask any club in this .coun try for. the privilege of taking mounts until he has either cleared his standing with the Jockey Club of England, or been, absolutely turned down. Sloan has de cided to practically risk his future repu tation on the treatment he gets when he returns to England next Spring. After reading the report that Tom Will iams, of the California Club, had cabled to England to secure additional informa tion on the case with the idea of refus ing to allow Sloan the privilege to ride at Oakland If the facts warranted It, Sloan said: "Mr. Williams is a splendid turfman, and if he has cabled to England for in formation, he probably does it sincerely. However, I don't Intend to ride at Oak land or any other California track. I am going to California for recreation. I have been fully prepared for the reports that followed the word from England. A fellow has to stand for them, A lot of people are asking questions and In such a way as to make it appear there Is more behind the caso than is now known. This matter cannot be fully settled until the Jockey Club of England makes a more complete statement or at least gives of ficial notice. That will not come prob ably for several months, or until I apply for a license." The West Doesn't Want It. Minneapolis Journal. Rep. The Journal heartily concurs In the dec laration of the Republican platform re garding the Importance of a strong mer chant marine, and in the views of the President favoring proper legislation to that end, but it is opposed to paying shipbuilders millions of dollars a year for many years in order to accomplish a result which, from present Indications, will come about in due time through the operation of natural causes. The Journal docs not believe that any considerable number of the people of the Middle West, of the Northwest, or of the South are In favor of the pasage of a ship-subsidy bill, and It believes the, better the ques tion is understood the fewer people will favor it. It is a measure for the benefit of a comparatively few, and while it would largely Increase their profits and give an artificial stimulus to the develop ment of an important brapch of Industry, there is reason to believe that ship building will continue to 4 prosper and grow without it- John C. StrunJe. of Middle SraltjiffeliVPa-, Is Is 94 years old, and bas sever been outside the conntr In which he was "born. SCANDAL RIFE IN' JAPAN MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS OF TOKIO FURNISH THE SUBJECT. Worst Feature Is Involvement of Cabinet Minister Honors to Rear Admiral Bcardsleyi YOKOHAMA, Nov. 20. The whole em pire is ringing with the Toklo munic ipal scandals, the worst feature of the case being the Involvement of one of the Cabinet Ministers. Party feeling, which always runs high here on, thq slightest friction, is now especially In tense, and It Is at present Impossible to .predict the outcome. It would be particularly unfortunate If, "Just at this Juncture, when International questions are of such supreme Importance, and the government is In hands' amply cap able of managing them, a comparatively trifling matter is to be allowed to throw the control Into feebler hands. The controversy on the municipal scan dals Is developing a curious and char acteristically Oriental state of affairs in the matter of newspaper libel suits. Thel noei iaws nave heretofore been practic ally Inoperative on account of the sys tem of vicarious atonement in common vogue, every native paper having a dum my editor whose only function is to go to jail whenever his paper ls sentenced for UbeL The result Is a flood of per sonal abuse which can be stayed only by an elaborate system of blackmail, the moro unscrupulous of the Journals corn billing both the disease and remedy In their plans of attack upon public and private reputations. The association of Japanese journalists has started an nntl-crUelty crusade, hav ing for its Impulse the extraordin ary silence of the European and Amer can papers upon the Russian and French outrages, especially the massacre by the forces of the former nation upon the Amoor River. It Is noted; by the foreign press here as somewhat extraordinary that the chief protest against these coun tries should emanate from a "heathen" nation, and from one to which the West em wdrld was only a short time ago reading moral lesons upon barbarity and administering the severest rebukes for its want of civilized spirit and methods In the conduct of warfare. The Buddhists have been stirred into unwonted activity by the Chinese situation. One evidence If this Is. the Issuance of an excellently written pamphlet In English entitled "an appeal to all ecclesiastics in the world," asking the latter to revise their methods of missionary Work so as to help China Instead of seeking to overthrow her so cial life and thus bring on moral chaos. Rear-Admiral Beardsley, of the United States Navy, is the recipient of many attentions from the Japanese,' as he war a member of Perry'a expedition, naVlng been a midshipman at the time the land ing was made at Uraga, .which led to the opening of Japan to the world. In con nection with bis visit a movement Is on ifoot to mark by some fitting monument the spot made historic and famous 'in the annals of the empire. NEXT IMPORTANT STEP. Said to Be Presentation of PoTrers' Agreement to Ministers. WASHINGTON. Dec. 9. The next im portant step In the Chinese situation will be the formal presentation to the Chinese plenipotentiaries of the agreement arrived at between the representatives of the powers at Pekin for reparation for the Boxer outrages. In Just what manner this wilL be done, Mr. Conger has not informed the Stato Department, although the probability is that the document will' be handled to the, Chinese by the- dean of the diplomatic corps. As has been .stated, the telegram Is simply a statement of the terms upon which the powers will nego tiate with China for final settlement, and is laid before then Chinese officials as a "matter of form. The negotiations for final settlement will come later, after the Chi nese have been given a reasonable oppor tunity for the consideration of the con ditions laid down byhe powers. The complete agreement deciphered from the code is now in the hands of the Presi dent. Officials decline to make its text public in advance of the receipt of In formation that it had been formally ac cepted by the powers, although the ad vices which have heretofore come from Mr. Conger leave no doubt that this will be the case. The essential features of the agreement already have been out lined in the press dispatches. 3IBANS PEACE IS DESIRED. Envoys So Take, Removal of General Tunjr, Fn Hstangr. PEKIN, Dec. 9. All the foreign envoys except Sir Ernest M. Satow, the British Minister, have received instructions from their governments agreeing to the Joint note proposed at the last meeting. An other meeting will probably be called for Tuesday next. Should the British Minis ter have received his Instructions to sign the Joint note by that time, communica tion will be immediately opened with Prince Chlng and Ll Hung Chang, who are in dally touch with the court by the Chinese telegraph. Prince Chlng says Emperor Kwang Hsu is ready to return as soon as assured that the negotiations, will allow him to come under conditions consonant with his dignity and Bafety. The removal of General Tung Fu Hsl ang from the command of the Chinese forces surrounding the court is consid ered by the foreign envoys to be a very Important step, as showing the real de sire of the government to come to terms. His banishment Indicates that the court recognizes the expediency of obeying the demands of the powers. ALL CREDIT DUE AMERICA. Russia Says This Nation Brought About Existing: Entente. ST. PETERSBURG, Dec 9. The Novoe Vremya, in an article evidently inspired referring to the recent dispatches from Dr. Morrison, in tfekin, to the London Times saying all the credit for securing softened terms is given by the Chinese to the Russians, remarks: "The credit for the existing entente really belongs to America. England be grudges President McKlnley his Just prestige because he has emphasized America's friendship for Russia." The Russian Journal regards the altera tions which America has procured in the peace preliminaries as of the greatest Im portance. Execution of Ya listen. Is Certain. LONDON, Dec 10. "General 'Chaffee wrote a letter to Count von Waldersee," says the Fekiri correspondent of the Morning Post, "complaining of the re moval by French and German troops of the astronomical instruments from the waU of Pekin, but the letter was re turned, to him on account of Its tone. He has notified the foreign envoys that all persons are prohibited passing the Amer ican guard on entering the south gate of the palace owing to the frequent eases pf looting. The Ministers are offended at this individual assumption of authority, "Yeng Lu, who is now acting as the adviser of the Chinese Court, enjoys the favor of the Empress Dowager and Is forming regiments which may be trusted to defend the court, "I am informed that the execution of Y.u Hsien is certain whenever the envoys demand it." THANKED BY THE QUEEN, Victoria Replies to Kins Carlos' Messase at Banquet Satarday. LISBON, Dec 9. King Carlos has re ceived from Queen Victoria the follow ing telegram In response to tho one sent Dy tis .Majesty yesteraay: i ,- "I am greatly touched hy your kind telegram. I sincerely thank you, my dear nephewtvfor It, and for the good wishes you entertain toward me and mine It is ,wlth:the greatest pleasure ..that Irecog alze the- cordial -and friendly understand ing between Portugal and England." After cordial farewells to the Portu guese ofacjals, and an exchange of sa lutes, the British "squadron sailed at noon. At Saturday's banquet on board the Brit ish battle-ship Majestic, when King Car los, Queen Marie Amelle and Prince Luis Philippe, together with members of the Cabinet and other dignitaries, were en tertained, by Vice-Admiral Rawson, the Portuguese Premier, De Castro, toasting "Queen Victoria and" Great," Britain. ' saluted "the alliance that has long exist ed in treaties and has been confirmed in recent acts." He said the significance of alliance was "an assurance that bur rights .will be respected and our dominions maintained." Slr.H, G., McDonnell, tho British Min ister, in responding, thanked the gov ernment ot King Carlos for the "friendly attitude, maintained with such correct ness, toward Great Britain during the war in. South Africa, .which has been warmly appreciated by the government of Queen Victoria." "The confirmation of alliance which unites us Indlssolubly," said the British Minister, "Is here in the presence of the Channel squadron. Ancient ties are drawn closer, by recent events. Tho British Government desires that a firm and durable alliance may be over maintained." In conclusion, he pro posed "the prosperity of Portugal and the happiness pf the royal family." ANOTHER BLOW FOR KRUGER. Netherlands Disavows Responsibil ity tor Kind Letter of Minister, THE HAGUE, Dec 9. The Govern ment of the Netherlands bas instructed the Dutch, Minister In London, Baron von Golsteln van Oldennaller, to dis avow In the name of the government all responsiblUty for the letter addressed to Mr. Kruger by the president of the Chamber of the Staats-General. Dr. A. van Naamen van Fomnes approving his "noble purpose" and expressing a hope that the independence oi.the two Dutch' Republics would be secured. Czar Not Disposed to Assist Krager. LONDON, Dec 10. "Mr. Kruger re ceived a message from the Czar Friday night," says the correspondent of the Times at The Hague. "It was couched in very friendly terms, but the fact that its existence has been kept .a close secret Is sufficient to indicate its author's In tention to abstain from any active stops tending toward Intervention. The Czar naturally pleads his illness as a sufficient excuse for not Interfering. "Mr. Kruger when cheered by the crowd on his return from the cathedral today turned and roundly rebuked thos'e near him for such a desecration of the Sab bath." American Locomotives Accepted. LONDON, Dec 10. The Daily Mail has received the following hy mail from Its Calcutta correspondent: The Porte' com missioners recently invited tenders for locomotives. The lowest English tender quoted 1514 for each locomotive and wanted nine months to complete the or der. The lowest American tender quoted 1260, and asked for six months. The latter was accepted, subject to the ap proval of tire government. United States as a World Porrer. BERLIN, Dec 9. The National Zelt ung devotes its first page today to a carefully prepared editorial dealing with the United States as a world power. After pointing out the enormous prog ress, economically and politically, of America In the world's affairs, the edi torial declares that In both respects the United States is arrayed against Eu rope. . i German Menibcrs. Arbitration Court. BERLIN, Dec. 9.-The German members of the international 'coUrt of arbitration at The Hague -will 'bet Dr. Blngner, pres ident of the Senate of the High Court; Herr von Frantzlug, Councillor of the Foreign Office and Councillor of the High Court, and Professor von. Bar, of the University of Goettiagen. - Czar Continues to Improve. ST. PETERSBURG, Dec 9. A satis factory bulletin Issued at-LIvadla today concerning the Csar's condition says: "His Majesty's weight is increasing, and the organs affected by typhoid have returned to their normal condition." Funds for British War Purposes. LONDON, Dec 10. "We believe," says the Daily News, "that the government will propose In the House ot Commons to go Into committee of ways and means for raising money for war purposes. This, may lead to considerable discussion." Arab! Pasha Will Be Pardoned. LONDON, Dec 10. The annlversap- of the accession of the Khedive, says' the Cairo correspondent of the Dally Express, will he signalized by the pardon of Arab! Pasha, who will thus be enabled to return from Ceylon. Souvenirs of Lord Nelson Stolen. LONDON, Dec." 10. Sev.eral .relics of Lord Nelson, including his watch and many of the medals awarded, him, were stolen fromthe Greenwich Hospital Sat urday after" the- attendants left. The po lice have no trace of the thief. SCHOOL FUND LOSSES. (Continued from First Page.) ture,.acd these laws It follows strictly. Every effort Is made to secure attorneys who can be relied upon, and the greatest vigilance is exercised in order to avoid losses due to bad titles or poor values. The work of bringing order out of the chaotic condition of the records, which' work was .begun by Clerk E. P. McCor nack, has been continued by his success ors, and the present incumbent is per--fectinK-a complete -set of records in his office. But in spite of the greatest vigil afice and the most perfect system of record-keeping, losses will ba sustained, and outside expenses must be incurred. But it is believed that J40.00Q per year is too heavy a loss to the school fund Interest on account of outside expenses and losses by bad loans, and that this i sum' can be reduced $25,000 or perhaps 530,000 per year by giving the board greater liberty in the Investment of funds and by providing that county and state indebtedness shall be paid with money borrowed from the common school fund: Whether anything can or should be accomplished In this di rection is a timely question, and one worthy" the attention of members of the Legislature. President's Message Tpo Longr. .Chicago Tribune. The annual message of the President should -be. a state paper of interest and value which, every American should read. It should 'contain only matters of such paramount importance as to deserve that the President of this great Republic should oall the attention of the National legisla ture to them. If this principle governed the writing of messages most Americans would read them and be, instructed there, by. As it ia, the pnly faithful students of most of the messages are the proof readers. The day before a message is &e Non-Irritating C&tHartic Easy to take, easy to operate --' - -r-tl J 2.00(1 S JflllS Light Green Hair Do you "want this color for your tair ? Tbca -we can't help you. But if you vant your gray nair restored to tne beauti ful dark, rick color it used to have, Aycr's Hair Vigor vill give it to you every time". You know it's not a dye, it's a hair-food. There is no need of looking old Before your time. If you do not obtain the benefit yon desire iromma of the Ylftor, -write the Doctor about it. He will tell you jnst the right thlniytodo. Address, Dr. J, C.ATEB.LoweU, Mass. -.. -.-... i.j,.maxM JU..I jKiyjM printed every business man says he means to read it. When he sees- the columns and pages it covers he sighs and puts It by, to be read at a. "more convenient season" a season that never comes. President McKlnley has broken many rec ords. "He will save himself much labor by making next time a Presidential mes sage record. He can do that by leaving "out of the message he is to send" to the iext Congress a year hence everything: contributed by his Secretaries that Is not important and interesting, and trusting to his own arts of composition alone. Then his message will be read through by ten thousand people where only one reads It through new. LITTLE ACTUAL FIGHTING. American i Enilly Rout Filipinos- Recent Engagements. MANILA, Dec 9. While the captures of supplies and the occupation or new pointy are quite numerous, the engage ments Involving actual fighting are com paratively few. Apparently the Insur gents are falling back at all contested points, sacrificing their possessions in mdst cases and satisfied to save them selves. A detachment of the Forty-seventh In fantry from the Island of Catanduanes, off the southeast coast of Luzon, relin quished an attempt to land near Pan dan On anchoring, the Americans wera Ared upon by 60 riflemen, and after a short engagement they cut the anchor chain and sailed for Catanduanes with two killed and two wounded. The names have not yet been received here. Cap tain R. T. Ellis, of the Thlrtv-thirrl In fantry, captured in the mountains near Barbar a large quantity of Krag, Mauser and Remington ammunition, together with a. signal outfit, a" printing press and other equipment. All of this was de stroyed. Thirty rifles and several hun dred cartridges were secured at Vic toria. A detachment ot the Fourth Infantry captured Major Garlon and three officers of lower rank in the town of Pasay. Another detachment destroyed GeneraJ Ugul's camp. The enemy had fled, but the Am'e-icins subsequently rounded up 25 Insurgerts. General MacArthur has ap proved the death sentences passed upon several addltlqnal prisoners convicted o murder, arson and pillage. In a few other instances he has commuted death sen tences to imprisonment. POSITION OF AMERICANS. Correspondent Snjs It Is Becoming Increasingly Hopeless. LONDON, Dec 10. "Reliable advice? from Manila show that the position of the .Americans is becoming increasingly hopeless" says the Hong Kong correi spondept- of the Daijy MaIL "Money la freely subscribed to purchase arms &n3j ammunition that are Imported Xor the inJ surgents. The Americans will never cap turq the real contraband-running vessels! While in order to flatter the official vlcTwr that trade Is flourishing goods are per mitted to be freely imported to Manllal they are distributed from that point td the insurgents, who are murdering and, pillaging all native sympathizers with tho Americans." Montana's Official "Vote. HELENA, Mont., Dec 9. The official canvass of the vote in Montana shows the following result: Bryan, 37,146; McKlnley. 25,375; Debs, 70S: Woolley, 298: Donnelly, 118. Dinner Sets Lovely Limoges French China Delicately tinted translu cent French China. Gold handles and clouded gold edges. Price them and they axe, yours. Single .pieces sold as well. Sets for Sfce,cr Sets for TwsSvq Sunbispsi Beoaraifon Dresden Decoration Primrose Decoration Many other Decora' tions Our Prices Just Like Finding -Money. Great Eastern Tea Co. STORES: 326 Waxh. St., bet. Sixth and Seventh 23 First Street, near Salmon. Tutf s Pills Cure All Liver Ills. A CLEAR HEAD; good digestion; sound sleep; a fine appetite and a ripe old. age, are some of the results of the use of Tutt's Liver Pills. A single dose wjll convince you of their wonderful effects and virtue, A Known Fact An absolute cure for sick head achet dyspepsia, malaria, sour stomach, dizziness, constipation bilious fever, piles, torpid liver and -all kindred diseases. Tutt's Liver Pills