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Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson,
office at 1111 Pacific a cnue, Tacoma. Box 955,
Tacoma Postofflce.
Eastern Business Office 17, 48, 49 and 59
Tribune building. New York City: 409 "The
Rockery," Chicago; the S. C Beckwlth special
Agency, Eastern representative.
For sale In San Francisco by J. K. Cooper,
T46 Market street, near the Palace Hotel; Gold
smith Bros., 230 Sutter street; F. "W. Pitts.
3008 .Market street; Foster & Orear, Ferry
sews stand.
For sale In Los Angeles by B. F. Gardner,
259 So. Spring street, and Oliver & Haines, 108
Bo Spring street.
For sale In Chicago by the P- O. News Co.,
217 Dearborn street.
For sale In Omaha by H. C Shears, 105 N.
Sixteenth street, and Barkalow Bros, 1012
Farnam street.
For sale in Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News
6o.. 77 "W. Second South street.
On file In Washington, D. a, with A. W.
Dunn. 500 14th N. "W.
For eale In Denver, Colo., by Hamilton &
Xendrlck, 900-912 Seventh street.
TODAVS -WEATHER. Probably fair, with
"westerly winds.
IPORTLAJTO, THURSDAY, BIAY 2, 1001.
TAXATION OP MORTGAGES.
The New "Fork Legislature is pressed
by the agricultural sections to enact
stringent mortgage-tax legislation. The
Jjendins: measure, known as the Strana-
3ian bill, has awakened a storm of pro
test. It relates solely to mortgages se
cured on real property located In New
York State. All mortgages executed In
the state are to be recorded, a heavy
penalty is provided where there is a
failure to record, while a money reward
equal to one-half of the tax recovered
is held out to any person giving infor
mation of evasion. Mortgages held by
ianks and trust companies are exempt,
on the ground that such holdings are
already taxed. Mortgages on property
in New Tork State otherwise held are to
be taxed one-half of 1 per cent, and two
thirds of the revenue is to go to the
state treasury and one-third to the lo
cality where collected or where the
mortgage Is recorded. The payment of
the B-mlll state tax relieves the mort
gage from local taxation, under -which it
now pays a tax sometimes as high as 2
per cent. The penalties laid upon eva
sion and the Inducements held out by
the bill for information as to evasions
are expected to bring1 all mortgages
upon the records and secure a thorough
application of the tax.
It is singular that the great and en
lightened State of Jew York should
seek to revive this mortgage-tax policy.
The money-lender is sure under any law
not to lose the advantage of his "bar
gain. In some way the burden of it is
sure to be carried by the borrower.
There is clear Injustice itx the taxation
Ol mortgages upon" property already
taxed. It is double taxation, and in the
last analysis means double taxation of
the borrower on real estate security.
According to the Springfield Republican
New York in her tax system is less
progressive even than Massachusetts,
L.where mortgages are not taxable when
besed upon realty situated in the state,
although mortgages held in the state on
realty ontside the commonwealth are
taxable, when the Assessors are able to
locate them, which is seldom, except in
cases of estates passing through the
probate courts. The mortgages now
outstanding on New York real estate
are estimated to be worth about $1,990,
000,000, of which about $1,000,000,000 must
be held by individuals and taxable un
der the Stranahan measure.
THE PRESIDENT AXD CIVIL SERV
ICE REFORM.
It Is gratifying to learn that the 5S8
appointees to lieutenancies In the Army
are to be examined as to their mental,
moral and physical qualifications, but
the friends of Army" reform fairly object
to the fact that these 588 places have
been assigned to the various states.
Eminent civil service reformers say
that this assignment is in line with the
Administration's way of awarding of
fices. The true friends of radical Army
xeform hold that the picked men of the
volunteer service should be the fresn
blood of the new regular Army, but
Mr. McKinley's view is, as the spoils
men put it, that -n e must "give the dif
ferent sections of the country a fair rep
resentation." It was the fortune of
Ohio to be the birthplace or residence
of a very large proportion of the distin
guished Union Generals of the Civil
War, and it was fortunate for the coun
try that Brigadier and Major-Generals
were not commissioned in those critical
days upon the principle of determining
that the proportion of Ohio men to New
Yorkers should be exactly according to
their representation in Congress. The
reed of the spoilsmen is so great,
however, that already Senators Pen
rose and Quay complain that the thirty-
three commissions assigned to them are
too few; that "they could hardly with
stand the pressure brought upon them"
i by the friends of some thirty officers
who were not selected.
The truth is that Mr. McKinley never
lias been In any sincere sympathy with
xhe spirit and purpose of civil service
reform, for he has always treated the
reform of the civil service, not as a
principle, but as a mere expedient
Eminent civil service reformers fairly
! say that the crying sin of the President
is not the fact that he recently appoint
ed a man commissioner of a reformed
service who has always been a devotee
' of the spoils system, but that under
I President McKinley "no one has been
(punished for evasions or violations of
the civil service laws. Gross cases
calling for executive discipline have
"been brought to his notice; his own
1 -commissioners have pointed out to him
infringements of the law, but he has
done nothing. The Presldeat regards
I civil service Teform not as a. principle.
"but exactly as he regards the spoils-J
men J as one of many "Interests" that
must be recognized and conciliated
when they cannot safely be snubbed.
"When the reformers are strong enough
to subject him to severe pressure to do
Ills duty, he throws a bone to the growl
ing watchdogof civil service reform, but
he never takes thp initiative In seeking
to Improve the civil service by making
entrance to it depend upon merit rather
than favor. Civil service reform Is no
more a principle, a cause, to McKInley
than the "spoils system." He treats
both as powerful antagonistic factions
within the party, and astutely and com
placently plays one off against the
other. He recognizes Quay and Piatt
and-Beverldge as bosses whom it is al
ways safe to use, and always dangerous
to "turn down"; he receives Civil Serv
ice Reformer Foulke so cordially that
that excellent man goes away convinced
that the President would be a most
stalwart, aggressive champion of the
cause of civil service reform If It were
not for the fact that National emergen
cies sometimes oblige him to conceal his
natural-born antagonism for the spoils
system and all its works. The spoils
men think they "own" the President;
the civil service reformers think that
while he is compelled to give his hand
occasionally to the spoilsmen, his heart
Is always with the cause of reform.
The truth is that the President uses
both and abuses both for his own pur
poses at every opportunity. He is with
one and against the other alternately,
just according to whether the pirate
ship of the spoilsman draws more water
and carries more guns than the good
government craft of the civil service
reformers. Mr. McKInley never was a
reformer in spirit; he Is an astute poli
tician, an able opportunist; he treats
both spoilsmen and reformers with
charming courtesy; he pleads sympathy
with and respect for civil service re
form when "the bosses" ask for some
thing that he doesn't wish to grant, and
he pleads the strength and power of
the "bosses" with the civil service re
formers as a reason why he is obliged
to hasten slowly In the execution of his
passionate desire and purpose to im
prove the public service. The civil serv
ice reformers find Mr. McKInley a dan
gerous because a most artful enemy.
At the outset of the crusade for civil
service reform legislation General Grant
was openly and honestly Incredulous of
either Its wisdom or its practicality.
He didn't hesitate to confess that he
liked to appoint his friends to office, be
cause it was safer to appoint a man you
knew than a man you knew nothing
about It was comparatively easy to
meet and beat open, honest opposition
like that of Grant, because the ground
of it would not endure discussion, but
It Is far more difficult to meet the oppo
sition of President McKInley, who pro
fesses warm friendship for the cause
while the substantial effect of his ad
ministration of the civil service law is
deftly to honeycomb the cause of re
form. Thus his study Is not to reform
the public service, but to ibend both
friends and foes of reform to his own
purposes by alternately patting the
head of the civil service reform watch
dog and smoothing the fur on the back
of the spoilsmen civet-cat.
THE MORALS OF PUBLIC MEN.
The collapse from dissipation of
Thomas F. Grady, who has been the
Democratic leader in the upper branch
of the New York Legislature, and the
death from the same cause of Demo
cratic Congressman Bradley, leads the
New York Evening Post to remark that
the breakdown of a politician from dis
sipation is a much rarer event than it
was a generation ago; that men
in public life do not become drunk
ards or even occasionally expose .them
selves while under the influence of
liquor in our day as in that of our
fathers and grandfathers. This is true
in the decent conduct of outward life,
but It is not truer of America than It
is of England. There are not as many
professors of religion in America and
England perhaps as there were In the
days of our grandfathers, but there are
more men who are observant of moral
decency and restraint in their public
life. This only means that civilization
has become more refined in its manners,
so that public Indecency is deemed the
mark of low breeding and intemperance
the earmark of bad manners.
The so-called minor morals of so great
a man as Alexander Hamilton were
so bad that in our day he would have
been held to stern account by his con
stituents. "William H. Crawford,, a dis
tinguished statesman, candidate for
President in 1824. died of paresis
brought on by alcoholism. Edward
Livingston, Jackson's Secretary of
State, a man of great ability, was loose
In his social and business relations;
Henry Clay was taunted by John Ran
dolph with being a notorious gambler,
and Clay could truthfully have charged
Randolph with gross intemperance in
the use of alcohol. Luther Martin, a
very great lawyer, who defended Aaron
Burr in his trial for treason, was a
grossly Intemperate man: Silas "Wright
died in his intellectual prime, and un
doubtedly shortened his days by too
free use of alcohol. Daniel "Webster did
not practice the restraint that would
be demanded of a leading statesman to
day; neither did "William H. Seward,
nor President Franklin Pierce, nor
President Andrew Johnson. Among the
great statesmen that swayed the Na
tion before the outbreak of the Civil
"War. John C. Calhoun was conspicuous
for his absolute freedom from dissipa
tion of any sort, and that stern old sol
dier, Andrew Jackson, was a model of
temperance and purity In his private
life.
Before the Civil "War hard drinking
was common among Congressmen, and
distinguished men like Thad Stevens,
of Pennsylvania, and George Ashmun,
of Massachusetts, were notorious gam
blers. During the Civil "War men of fine
public talents, like Senator McDougall,
of California, and Senator Salsbury, of
Delaware, sometimes appeared on the
floor of the Senate the worse for liquor,
and thirty years ago it was a common
sight during the strain of an all-night
session to see men of high distinction
and ability on the floor when they were
not themselves from drink. Doubtless
the scenes of violence on the floor of
Congress before the war were due quite
as much to alcoholism as they "were to
partisan bitterness or "plantation"
manners.
No Senator of the distinction that was
enjoyed by Matt Carpenter, of "Wiscon
sin, In life could afford today to exhibit
his contempt for the decencies of life
In his relations with women. The rise
in the public standard of sobriety anfi
decency shows Itself not only in Con
gress among men of a superior average
or Intelligence and intellect Jbut even in
New York City the engineers of the
Tammany Hall government are men of
sobriety and purity In their domestic
relations. Tweed was a gross feeder, a
drinker and a man of loose life, and sp
were all of his confederates save Sweel
ney; but Croker and his lieutenants, are
men entirely decent and sober in their
private lives. Even the New York
Board of Aldermen, composed of a very
low type of office-holders, is free from
drunkenness. This ever-widening circle
of sobriety and decency is as much in
evidence in England as it is In Amer
ica. Up to the accession of Queen Vic
toria, in 1837, public manners tolerated
dissipation and loose life among public
men. George IV and "William IV
brought to the throne the gross dissipa
tion and Indecent manners that were
common in their youth, when the great
est orator and statesman of his cen
tury. Fox, was a most reckless gambler,
when his great rival, Pitt, could not
make a long speech without a skin full
of wine. The Duke of "Wellington and
Lord Melbourne were survivors In their
habits of the free-and-easy morals of
the regency, but to them succeeded a
line of decorous, well-behaved states
men whose public habits and personal
manners gave no offense to public
moral sense.
The same change is seen in literature
on both sides of the water. The hard
drinking of Thackeray's day shocked
Charles Sumner, and in the early days
of American periodical literature there
was a good deal of dissipation among
the New York literati of the quality of
N. P. "Willis and Charles Fenno Hoff
man. The change in the social code
and political standard of public moral
ity and decency has been large arid
general on both sides of the water
within fifty years. It Is not due to re
ligion; It is not based on sentimental
grounds; it is a matter of business and
a growth of refinement in public man
ners. Men of business frown on the
undue use of stimulants, and men and
women of fashion teach by precept and
example that public intemperance or
indecency is bad form, bad manners,
and will not be pardoned by Mrs.
Grundy.
COLOR LINE IN CLUBDOM.
It is one of the curious revenges of
time that the proposal to discharge
negro servants and hire "whites at the
New Xork Union League Club should
have been defeated, despite the recom
mendation of the house committee,
largely through the influence and elo
quence of a Southern man, born and
bred, an ex-Confederate soldier, John
S. "Wise, whose father was Governor of
Virginia when John Brown was hanged.
Governor Wise was a slaveholder, and,
of course, his son was familiar with
the negro character from boyhood. Per
haps this very familiarity makes him
less sensitive to mere physical repul
sion felt by Northern born and bred
men for the negro. "While it is true
that Southern men laugh at the phys
ical aversion of Northern men for the
negro, probably a higher and nobler
reason Influenced Mr. "Wise in his op
position to the discharge of colored
help. He probably felt that there was
really no just ground for their dis
charge save the mean prejudice of the
aristocracy of skin, and that to yield
to this prejudice would be unworthy
of an organization like the Union
League Club. Remembering that the
black man, through the social malevo
lence of his enemies and the political
folly of his friends, has a hard time
to secure justice, North or South, Mr.
"Wise doubtless was not disposed to
hold the right hand of fellowship out
to that miserable public opinion which
suffered inoffending negroes to be cruel
ly mobbed In New Tork City because
a negro criminal had shot a policeman
Mr. Wise probably remembered that
some ten years ago the son of an emi
nent Jew banker, one of the founders
of the Union League Club, was black
balled by some young dude members
of the club, an act of folly which caused
several eminent Jew members of the
club like Edwin Einstein to withdraw
from it. This manifestation of exclu
slveness has now been followed by an
effort to employ none but white help.
Of course, to these youngsters the
historic fame of the Union League Club
as a participant in the war for the
Union and in the legislation that fol
lowed is a thing of no consequence. To
them the club is merely a house for
social entertainment, an art gallery and
a banquet hall. To Mr. "Wise its polit
ical fame Is sacred, despite the fact
that when the club was founded he was
fighting on the other side. Yet this
brilliant, big-brained Southern man Is
broad-minded and generous-hearted
enough not only to be glad that the
negro is no longer a slave, but to be
anxious that as a free man the negro
should have a fair chance to earn his
bread without having to carry the cross
of the color line all his days on his
shoulders, not only in his social, but
In his industrial, life. This gifted son
of a gifted Southern slaveholder felt
some sympathy for the race whose
virtues he had seen In his childhood,
when decent black women were house
hold nurses to the master's babies, and
faithful black men went cheerfully to
war as the affectionate body servant ol
their master. The Southern man who
had grown to manhood before the war
knew the negro's best side, and it Is to
one of these Southern men that the
negro help at the Union League Club
owes the fact that they have not been
turned down and out to make room for
the aristocracy of skin.
The wishes and desires of the Astoria
editors in regard to an Oriental steam
ship Hn.e out of the Columbia River are
difficult to understand. For months
they have berated Portland and the O
R. & N. Co. for not providing a service
sufficient to stop the flow of Oregon
products to rival ports on Puget Sound.
A line adequate for all demands has
been provided, and because the first
steamer of this line went out without a
full cargo they are devoting all of their
puny efforts to "knocking" the enter
prise. Portland will take care of this
line, however, and as soon as we get
water enough below Astoria to handle
safely the ships that can come to Port
land we will replace the Indravelll, In
drapura and Knight Companion with
still larger steamers.
Hesitation of the Council to act pre
cipitately In the matter of telephone
and messenger franchises is to be com
mended In view of the opinion of the
City Attorney that the present charter
designedly removed these matters from
the jurisdiction of the Council and
turned them over to the Board of Pub
lic "Works. It is difficult" to see what
specific directions on the handling of
-ht!t-5 Tnr PTflYflnlp. i lff: tn tVi. Pnnn-
cil's power, by a plain provision giving
ta the Board of Public "Works "exclu
sive management and control of the
construction of all public local improve
ments, of the erection of poles and the
stringing of wires," as "Well as author
ity to "allow, authorize, provide for
and regulate the manner of erection,
maintenance and removal of telephone,
telegraph, electric light, electric railway
and other poles, wires and cables," etc.
Franchises, to be sure, are In the Coun
cil's hands, but details of wlre-s'tringing
such as are contemplated, especially, in
the rights asked for by a third messen
ger company, seem to lie with the Board
of Public "Works. Multiplication of
wires is becoming a serious menace to
life and property. "What is the use of
ordering telephone wires under ground
and permitting messenger wires to be
strung up?
The Oregon trail, from Independence,
Mo., to Oregon City, is carefully and
charmingly described by Professor F,
G. Young, secretary of the Oregon His
torical Society, in the fourth number of
its quarterly, just issued. The account
is accompanied by a map showing the
route taken by the immigrant trains,
which, from Fort Kearney westward,
was nearly the same as that subse
quently adopted for the Union Pacific
Railroad. All the historic landmarks
of the trail are noted and half-tone Il
lustrations show each of these In detail.
This Is the result of a great deal of la
borious and intelligent, research, and It
belongs rather to American history in
its broader sense than to the story of
Oregon in its local aspects. Professor
Young's description of the trail is a his
torical paper of the greatest value. It
is done with discrimination and some
thing is given of the circumstances of
each great train, making the story a
complete one. This is a new achieve
ment, and perhaps the greatest one, of
the Oregon Historical Society, and much
credit belongs to Professor Young for
the accurate and satisfactory manner In
which the work has been accomplished.
A descendant in the fourth genera
tion of th? Empress Josephine is soon
to become a brother-in-law of the Czar
of Russia. This is Duke Peter Roman
owsky, a lineal descendant of Eugene,
the loyal but warlike Prince who, of all
the persons made conspicuous by the
genius and favor o Napoleon, never, a
the latter testified at St. Helena, gave
him a pang or betrayed his confidence.
His bride Is the Archduchess Olga, sis
ter of Nicholas. Frederic Masson, the
romantic historian, if one may employ
a contradiction of terms whereby to des
ignate him,( who concludes his long
series of Napoleonic studies with a
rather equivocal apotheosis of the Em
press Josephine, says of this son of
her first marriage: "There are few of
the personages surrounding Napoleon,
who played puppet Kings In his aston
ishing comedy of power, more interest
ing than Eugene de Beauharnais, the
Viceroy of Italy and the last com
mander of the 'grande armie' when Na
poleon quit it to fly to Paris after the
hideous finale at Moscow."
The good people of Roseburg seem to
be treading each other's heels In their
eagerness to sign the petition for the
pardon of Hugh Patterson. Men and
women "the best citizens," it is said
gladly affix their names to this petition. .
Among them is a minister, who, in
signing the instrument, expresses the
opinion that this poor young man has
been "sufficiently punished" for his part
in imprudent, childish, wretched Min
nie Thorn's undoing. Queerideas these
"good citizens" and this minister of the
gospel have of this young man's culpa
bility. That he belongs to a good fam
ily and -was -well brought up renders
the bestial conduct for which he is do
ing time in the Penitentiary only the
more heinous. It may be hoped that an
emphatic "No" from the Governor will
at the proper time put an end to thifa
disgraceful parading of a most abom
inable deed before the public.
The proposal to divide the school fund
of Virginia between the white and black
races, in proportion to the amount of
taxes paid by them respectively, is de
nounced by United States Senator Dan
iel as "lacking in just regard for the
natural relations of the state to its
citizens. It would contain a restriction
upon legislative power unprecedented in
the United States. It would put us out
of sympathy with the great body of our
I fellow-citizens elsewhere, as well as a
large mass of them, both black and
white, In our own commonwealth." The
Richmond Times supports Senator Dan
iel, denouncing such a step as cruel and
calculated to advertise the Virginia
whites as possessed with "a hatred
toward the black race."
In common charity let us believe that
the woman who threw hot water upon a
party of little girls at play upon the
porch of the dwelling In which she oc
cupies housekeeping rooms did it unin
tentionally, and properly regrets the
fright and suffering she thus inadvert
ently inflicted upon the children. No
annoyance, however great, and no in
jury which little girls could possibly
inflict, would for a moment justify a
retaliatory act so cruel. Let us believe,
therefore, that the incident recorded
was purely accidental, and be glad that
the injuries inflicted upon the children
were not serious.
The kindly remembrance in which
Hon. J. F. Caples was held during his
long absence from this city was attested
by the cordial greeting accorded to him
at Taylor-Street Church Tuesday even
ing. Having discharged faithfully and
acceptably the duties of United States
Consul to Valparaiso during the past
four years, Mr. Caples returns to his
home port satisfied with his official ex
perience and glad to return once more
to private life. His friends mark few
changes in his appearance, and none
whatever In his genial and cordial In
terest in them and in home affairs.
Mr. McKInley is trying to do better
in his speeches this time, but he will
not fully succeed till -he drops the bale
ful use of such expressions as "Max
ims are not as profitable as markets,"
which recalls his empty phrase, "A pa
triot Is better than a pessimist." Mr.
McKinley's sententious maxims, cer
tainly, are not very profitable.
Organization of a- shipbuilding trust
upon the failure of the subsidy bill is
an outrage xm public decency. Could
anything be more lacerating to Mr.
Hanna's feelings? Capital of $5,000,000
is subscribed In the face of the asser
tion that the poor shipbuilders can't ex-
1st unless goTemment aids them. This
is adding insult to Injury,
EXPLANATION' FROM VENEZUELA
"WASHINGTON, May 1. The State De
partment has received from the Gov
ernment of Venezuela a satisfactory ex
planation of the circumstances under
which Ignacio Blaz, United States Con
sular agent at Barcelona, came to be ar
rested and mulcted of a heavy fine. "While
no details are furnished, it Is stated that
the action of the Venezuela Government
in the matter is all that could be desired,
and that Blaz, who has recovered or will
recover the money extorted from him,
will not be further molested.
The State Department's Information re
garding the legal proceedings' in Vene
zuela In connection with the asphalt con
troversy Indicates that it will be many
months before the issue will come to trial
in the Venezuela high court. As there Is
no disposition exhibited to dispossess the
American concessionaires who are In pos
session, pending the termination of the
legal proceedings, the State Department Is
entirely satisfied with the status quo as
to this case. There are, however, other
issues which may change the aspect or
American affairs In Venezuela. An at
torney named King, representing some of
the interests connected with what Is
known as the Orinoco or Faribault con
cessions, has laid before the State De
partment complaints of arbitrary actions
on the part of Venezuela Government and
the department has notified Venezuela
that It expects just treatment at Its
hands for American citizens and interests.
The official mall from Venezuela re
ceived today by Mr. Pueledo, the Vene
zuelan Charge, continues to show a spe
cific apd agreeable tone toward the
United States. The Venezuelan author
ities have taken note of the fact that
the unfriendly criticism of Venezuela
made by some American newspapers has
given way to more temperate discussion.
On the whole, the official advices show a
reassuring state of affairs among those
most influential in Venezuelan affairs.
The personnel of President Castro's Cab
inet is made known personally, and the
Minister of Foreign Affairs takes occa
sion, in stating that he will continue his
duties, to pay a compliment to the Vene
zuelan Charge at Washington for his con
duct of affairs here.
Loomts' Course Approved.
NEW YORK, May 1. A special to the
Herald from "Washington says:
Venezuela will be given to understand
that the United States has formally ap
proved the course pursued by Minister
Frank B. Loomls in his action upon va
rious matters In dispute between the two
governments. At the same time she will
be told that the United States relies upon
her sense of Justice in the settlement of
these matters.
Instructions setting forth the attitude
of the Administration have been sent bj
the State Department to Mr. Russell,
Charge d'Affalres In Caracas. Mr. Rus
sell will Immediately call upon the Vene
zuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs and
apprise him of the fact that the policy
of the United States in the several ques
tions pending is the same as It was bp
fore the withdrawal of Minister Loomls.
Diplomatic representations are consid
ered ample at this time, and especially
in view of the action of the Venezuelan
Government in expressing regret to Mr.
Russell for the arrest of Ignacjo H. Blaz,
Consular agent in Barcelona. By its ex
pression of regret the Venezuela Gov
ernment )n the opinion of the authorities
has shown a desire to remove all Irri
tation frdm the relations existing be
tween it and the United States.
France and Venezuela.
PARIS, May ,1.-1 he French Foreign
Office has no Information regarding the
reported sighing of a protocol between
France and Venezuela, by which the dip
lomatic relations between the two coun.
tries are now to be resumed. It is sup
posed the report means that Venezuela
has decided to accept the terms of
France. The Venezuelan delegate, Senor
de Castro, recently discussed the matter
with the Foreign Office and was given to
understand that France adhered to her
original demands arising from the
Venezuelan trouble and their acceptance
was a necessary preliminary to the re
sumption of relations. Since, however,
Venezuela has found that considerable
Injury has been wrought to her coffee
trade, 'she has been anxious to resume
relations.
German Deal With Castro.
NEW TORK, May 1 A dispatch to
the Herald from Trinidad says:
Information has reached here that the
German cruiser Vinetta recently com
pleted survey of the Island of Margarita.
Officers of the ship spent 10 weeks mak
ing charts and soundings. The officers
say a fine harbor has been discovered,
with every advantage for a coaling sta
tion. A secret deal with President Castro,
of Venezuela, is reported by which for
money he may permit it. This furnishes
additional reason why President Castro
wanted Minister Loomls withdrawn.
GREAT STRIKE THREATENED.
Action of British Coal Miners "Will
Depend on Commons Debate.
LONDON, May 1. Whether or not the
British miners will strike depends largely
upon the trend of discussion of the coal
tax resolution, which will come up In the
House of Commons tomorrow. Although
it Is generally supposed the coal owners
have been backing the miners with the
object of bringing pressure on the govern
ment to modify the coal taxation project,
there are signs of a division of opinion
since the Federation reached its decision,
and some of the Influential owners, es
pecially those not exporting coal, are
counseling prudence. The miners' reason
for advocating a strike appears to be
based on fear that the owners will recoup
themselves from the tax by an equiva
lent reduction In wages. Reports from
the mining districts Indicate that a ma
jority of the miners are In favor of the
strike. They have had two years of pros
perity, and the funds of their Unions are
overflowing. It is admitted, however, by
Liberals and Conservatives that their ill
advised action will have no effect so far
as a repeal of the coal tax Is concerned.
The whole country condemns the strike,
which will tend to disorganize all the in
dustries, and as the people have little
sjmpathy with the coal trade, which dur
ing the last 12 months has reaped huge
profits at the expense of the community,
the only effect of the strike is likely to
draw the support of the people toward the
government. The prospect of a strike has
spread dismay among the mill and foun
dry owners, as there are no stocks In hand
at the collieries.
THE DEATH ROLL.
"William F. Davidson.
NEW TORK, May 1. William F. Da
vidson, a well-known civil engineer, who
assisted in laying out the route of the
Union Pacific Railroad, died in Bellevue
Hospital last evening from injuries re
ceived by being knocked down by a horse
and wagon. He was 66 years old.
Congressman Crump.
BAY CITY, Mich., May 1. Congress
men Crump, Representative from the 10th
Congressional district, died at his home
at West Bay City early today from heart
trouble. He was 58 years of age. He was
elected to Congress last Fall for the
fourth time.
TV. H. Eliott.
DETROIT, Mich.. May 1. Hon. W. H.
Elliott, member of the Republican com
mittee, died today after a brief illness,
aged 57.
Samuel D. Blurrny.
TOLEDO, O., May 1. Samuel D. Mur
ray, millionaire patent medicine manufac
turer, died at his home in this city last
evening.
Son of the Carl of Klmberley.
LONDON, May l.-Hon. Armlne TYode-
house, son of the Karl of Idmberley, Is
dead, aged 41 years.
A CONGRESSIONAL JUNKET.
"WASHINGTON, May 1. The subcom
mittee of the House committee on fivers
and harbors, appointed to prepare au
Itinerary for the committee for the com
ing inspection of the harbors of the Pa
cific Coast, was In session today, A defi
nite decision to leave "Washington, June 3,
was reached. New Orleans will be the
first objective point. After leaving New
Orleans, stops will be made at Houston,
Buffalo Bayou and Galveston. From Tex
as the party will go to Los Angeles or
San Diego, Cal., making no stops on the
way. All the harbors on the California
coast between San Diego and San Fran
cisco will receive attention. The intention
is to give four or five day3 to San Fran
cisco and the Coast in its vicinity. A
day or two will be spent at Sacramento,
and then the harbors of Oregon and
"Washington will be visited. Seattle will"
be reached about July 1. Thence some of
the party will make a pleasure trip to
Alaska. All told, the Inspection will con
sume something over six weeks.
The Nordstrom Case.
Suggestions in printed form were filed
In the United States Supreme Court today
by counsel on both sides In the case of
Charles W. Nordstrom, the criminal from
the State of Washington, whose case has
become famous by reason of his execu
tion having been delayed for nine years
since his original sentence for murder. On
behalf of Nordstrom, James H. Lewis
filed his objection to the motion made by
Attorney Fulton, on behalf of the state,
for dismissal of the case as brought to
the court on a mbtion for a writ of error
to the Supreme Court of Washington. Mr.
Lewis says that in this case he has had
only three days' notice, under the rules
of the court. He also alleges discrepancies
In the record. Attorney FUlton says that
he had no knowledge that this case was
on the Supreme Court docket until he ar
rived in this city a few days ago, and as
serts that the questions Involved are the
same as in the Nordstrom, proceedings
brought here from the Federal Court, th
which he says 50 days' notice was given,
and contends that the objection is for de
lay only. He makes the same point with
reference to the criticism, and asserts
that by these tactics a perversion of just
Ice is being accomplished.
Receipts and Expenditures.
The monthly comparative -statement of
Government receipts and expenditures
shows that during April, 1S01, the total re
ceipts were 547,767,851, and the disburse
ments $41,968,245, leaving a surplus for the
month of 15,800,000. The receipts from
the several sources of revenue, as com
pared with the corresponding month last
year, were:
Increase.
Customs $19,131,718 $ 400,000
Internal revenue 26.022.311 2,420.000
Miscellaneous 2,613,820 60,000
Total receipts shov an Increase over
April, 1900, of J2.720.000. The expenditures
are given as follows:
Civil and mIscelIaneous.511,2S5,520
War 10,102.730
Navy 5,272.607
Indians 455,282
Pensions 10,196,912
Interest 4,655;i22
W.5C0.030
142,000
1,500,100
62,000
750.000
200,000
Decrease.
For the 10 months the total receipts were
$482,884,961, an Increase, as compared with
the corresponding period last year of $10,
500,000. Circulation and Coinage.
The monthly circulation statement Is
sueuby the Controller of the Currency
shows that at the close of business April
30. 1901, the circulation of National bank
notes amounted to $350,6S1.822, an Increase
for the year of $65,406,494, and an Increase
for the month of $663,011.
The monthly coinage statement issued
by the Director of the Mint shows that
the total oolhage executed at the mints
of the United States during April, 1901.
was $21,734,660, as follows:
Gold $18,193,000
Silver 2,633,000
Minor coins 143,660
Rural Mall Service Inspection.
General Superintendent Machen, of the
free delivery service, will leave here Fri
day on a tour of inspection of the rural
free delivery service in the West. He
will he away five or six weeks. He will
visit the headquarters of divisions at Den.
ver, San Francisco and other points.
'
CONGEU. IN IOWA.
Tendered a. Reception on His Arrival
nt Council Bluffs.
OMAHA, Neb , May 1. An advance
guard of Iowan spent the night In Oma.
ha, and escorted Major Conger across the
river this morning. At the depot there
the Minister was received by Mayor Jen
nings and a party of distinguished gue3ts
from various parts of the state. The
weather was perfect, and Mr. Conger's
party was taken for a drive about the
city, pausing in a down-town park for an
informal reception. At the Grand Hotel
a long line of people stood ready to shake
hands with the Minister,, and his reception
reached the magnitude of an ovation.
Governor Shaw and his suite arrived
shortly after the Minister, and was also
accorded a hearty reception. A brilliant
assemblage was present in the dining
room when the principal guest entered,
and the banquet proceeded without inci
dent. Responding to the address of welcome
by the Iowa committee. Minister Conger
referred briefly to recent events in China,
In reference to the inception of the Chi
nese trouble. Mr. Conger absolved the
Boxers from all blame.
"The princes and high official'?," he
said, "were responsible for the slaughter
of the missionaries, and the real offenders
have been the most punished. The Im
perial Court, I believe, rejoiced that the
potentates involved came to the end
which they deserved."
At His Des aiolnes Home.
DES MOINES, la., May 1. The special
train bearing United States Minister Con
ger arrived in Des Moines at 10 o'clock
tonight. An enormous crowd of people
was at the" station to meet the distin
guished Iowan. who had passed through
such trying scenes In the Orient. Major
Conger and party were quickly trans
ferred from the train to a carriage amid
the cheers of -the multitude, and, escorted-
by a drum corps of veterans, passed up
Fourth street from the railway station,
and at once went to the Conger home,
just outside of the business district.
THE SIMPLE PROBLEM.
If Cubans Cannot Govern Them
selves We Must Do It for Them.
WASHINGTON. April 26. "Uncle Joe"
Cannon, of Illinois, takes a matter-of-fact
view of the Cuban situation. "The Cu
ban situation," says he, "Is covered by
the fact that the only government now
existing in Cuba is by the President
through the Army. That government, of
course, will remain until the people of
Cuba adopt a constitution and frame a
government of their own. embodying the
Piatt amendment. Congress has plenary
power in the premises, and has exercised
that power by enacting the Piatt amend
ment. The people Of the Middle West,
without regard to party, indorse the legis
lation covered by the Piatt amendment.
There Is nothing but the kindliest feeling
for Cuba among the people of our coun
try, and they are entirely willing that
the people of Cuba shall have a govern
ment of their own, should they so de
sire, and hope they will be successful
therein.,
"If the Cubans should accept the Piatt
amendment," continued the Illinois Con
gressman, "and demonstrate their capac
ity for" self-government, there will be no
trouble- with the people of the United
States. But if they should not succeed
In demonstrating that they are fitted for
self-government, then the interests of the
people of Cuba, as well as of the United
States, demand that we should see that
there is law and order on the Island. Our
people also feel that we are bound in
eood faith to all the world to the same
end,"
NOTE AND COMMENT
?
Bryan once more announces that he la.
not a Presidential candidate. Is is he
dead?
News is getting so slack that the para
graphers will soon be obliged to Join 'In
the chase after Dewet.
The Commoner is going to hold a prize
essay contest, and offers a gold medal to
the winner. Alas, poor silver!
The street-car conductor who helps
himself to $100 at one time Is too strenu
ous for that kind of a position. T
That Evanston professor who never;
kissed a girl Is a man with whom golden,
opportunity should waste no time.
OhI lt us sing a sons of Spring.
Of woods and brooks and hills.
Of birds and bees and budding trees
And also quinine pills.
"Breakaway" would have been a better
name than "Get Together" for that New
Tork club which recently went out of
business.
The high-rolling nature of the land
about Mount Tabor seems to have com
municated Itself to some of the juvenile
Inhabitants.
Queen WUhelmlna is beginning to find
that she could have bought a first-class
navy at a more reasonable figure than
she has paid for that husband of hers.
The surprising thing Is that the Presi
dent's train started without James Creel
man being on board. But perhaps James,
will trail the party on .a special engine.
A Southern revivalist had the habit of
taking a horse at every town in which:
he preached. He must have been hanker
ing for a good old-fashioned martyr's
death.
Asulnaldo is subsisting on porterhouse
steaks and champagne, a diet that ap
peals more strongly to most people than
beans, of which the insurgents, who are"1
still In rebellion, make their chief food.
Do not complain about the rain;
Be careful what you say,
Tou'lt need your choicest swear-words for
The
first
hot
day.
A story is told of an amusing encounter
which Maurice Barrymore once had With
a stranger. "Will jou oblige me with a.
light?" said Barrymore to a belated strol
ler. "Certainly," said the stranger, hold
ing over his cigar. But when Barrymore
handed back the perfecto the owner flung i
It away. Out came Barrymore's cigar
case. "Take one of mine," he said, with
a tone to the Invitation which made an
order of It. The stranger hesitated and
took the cigar. "Let me offer you a
light," added Barrymore, giving his light
ed weed to the other. Upon regaining his
cigar Barrymore of course flung It away.
"I should like to continue this Indefinitely,
but I have only a few cigars," he said,
and walked off. Barrymore would devote
as much thought to a trifle like this as he
would require to write a brilliant essay
or memorize a part. .
"I had once." writes a correspondent,
"the curiosity to write to Windsor Castle
and ask for the origin of the -Queen's
charitable practice of giving a bounty to
women who had given birth to triplets. ,
I had a very courteous reply from, the
Queen's private secretary explaining that
the first gift to a woman who had three
children at a birth was prompted solely
by Her Majesty's sympathetic feeling to
ward her. The case had happened to
come to the knowledge of the Queen, and
she sent a sovereign for each of the ne
ly arrived little Britons, as an assistance
to the mother in her embarrassment of
family treasures. This had happened
about 40 years before this correspondence
and quite early la the xelsij. and had. coat
the Queen's private purse about $1500 a
year ever since. Of course, it Is not in
all cases of the kind that this 'bounty
Is sent to the mother. It is only to those
who are poor and apply for It, but as the
majorlty of people are poor, and some
how these little surprises seem generally
to overtake people who cannot afford
them, the Queen's bounty for triplets had
come to be regarded almost as a matter
of course."
PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAFHERS
In Paris "How do jou know ahe Is an
American?" "I heard her talking French."
Life.
Disappointed. "I see the Newgllts have
given up their automobile." "What for?'
"They found, after all. that It wasn't so ex
pensive as keeping horses." Puck.
"Is he a man of ability?" "Is he? Why, he
not only knows that he doesn't know much,
but he has the ability to Keep others from
knowing It." Philadelphia Times.
In the Light of Modem Science "That
bookkeeper of voura never stems to be sick."
"No; he's the most expert germ-dodger we've
ever had In the establishment." Chicago
Trlbune.
The Worst. Mrs. Gush I heard all about
your poor husband having his arm broken la
that dreadful street-car accident yesterday;
let me sympathize with you. Mr'. Swagger
Oh. thank you; but that Isn't the worst; my
new hat was simply ruined In the wreck.
Ohio State Journal.
Lady (at the registry office) But I shouldn't
care to trust her with a baby. She's too small
itor a nurse. Manageress Her size, madame.
we look upon as her greatest recommendation.
Lady Indeed I But she is so -very small. Man
ageress -Yc. but that is an advantage. In my
opinion. Tou see that when ahe drops the
baby It hasn't very far to fall Glasgow Even
ing Times.
Tender-Hearted Soul. "How's this?" de
manded the magistrate. "Tou havo your hus
band arrested for assault, and yet you refuse
to testify against him." -wen, " ""
said Mrs. McGlone. whose heart had softened.
T ain't shure 'twas him done It." "But you
told me he purched you In the eye." "Thrue
for ye. Some wtn did punch me In th olye,
but I ain't shure who. fur me back wor turned
at the tolme." Philadelphia Press.
A Sons Over Sen.
Frank L. Stanton In Atlanta Constitution
No faint farewell-no tender clasp of hands
In life's receding beams. .
I give you to unknown undreamed-of landt
Where Fate shall read your dreams.
ir.
Could not the Spring, with violets In her
Tempt you to linger Ions?
(Alas! dear heart, we trample, unaware,.
On the sweet flowers of song )
in.
The lilies are yet eloquent of words.
A world's wealth would ou hold?
Reap It In Wind-swept melodies of birds
Spring's Silver Autumn's sold.
rv.
Are any lands, sweetheart, as fair as thl
Arcadian, o'er the foam?
Are crimson lips that seal an alien kiss
Sweet as the kiss of home?
Give you God's grace! But, In the dream
night.
"Will you not look afar, ,
Arid see a ghost. In heavens of delight.
Of a forgotten Star?
Vi
A Ghost of Memory I .
no clasp of
hands
In life's receding beams:
There shall be stars In undiscovered, lands,
"Where- Fate shall read your dream.
uL caf&JLywu SsVT