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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1901)
THE MOKNING OEEGONIAN, FfilfiAY, NOVEMBER 29, 1901. DEVELOPING THE ISLANDS SECRETARY ROOT REPORTS OX THE PHILIPPINES. Utilisation of Forest Products The Banking: and Cnrrencr Ques tionOther Matters. WASHINGTON. Nov. 28. The conclud ing1 sheets of tho annual report of the Secretary of War were submitted to the President today. They refer to conditions In the Philippines. Referring to the pass age of the Spooner amendment, the re port says: "The conditions at that time did not permit, nor, great as has been the im provement, do they now permit, the aban donment of military government through out the archipelago. In the moro unset tled portions of the islands the restrictive and punitive force of purely civil adminis tration would as yet be quite Inadequate to the maintenance of order, even if the creation of a civil service personnel -were already accomplished. The -work of se curing the great number of competent and faithful civil agents necessary for tho administration of government Is neces sarily slow, even In thoroughly pacified territory. It requires that tho appointing power should become familiar with great numbers of the natives, and should learn both who are competent and who are to be trusted a necessarily gradual process. "The policy contemplated In the Instruc tions of April 7, and followed by the War Department, has been to steadily press forward, as rapidly as It could be done safely and thoroughly, the gradual sub stitution of government through civil agents for government through military agents, so that the administration of the military ofllcer shall be continually nar rowed, and that of tho civil officer con tinually enlarged, until the time comes when the Army can, without Imperilling the peace and order of the country, be relegated to the same relation toward government which It now occupies in tho "United States. In this way we have avoid ed the premature abandonment of any power necessary to enforce the authority of the United States, and at the same time have held open to tho people of every community the opportunity to es cape from the stringency of military rule by uniting with us in effective measures to bring about peaceful conditions in the territory which they inhabit." Referring to the civil service question the report says: "In providing the personnel of the gov ernment which is thus gradually super seding military administration, the de partment has proceeded upon the assump tion that the honor and credit of the United States Is so critically involved in creating a good government that the im portance of securing the best men avail able should outweigh and practically ex clude air other considerations. This prin ciple of selection has been followed with out deviation. No officer, high or low, has heen appointed upon any one's re quest, or upon any personal, social or po litical consideration. The general power of appointment was vested by the In structions of April 7 in the commission, which is 000 miles removed from all American pressure for office, and which will stand or fall upon Its success- or fail ure In getting competent men. The order of June 21, appointing the Civil Governor, transferred the power to the Civil Gov ernor with the consent of the commission. The exercise of this power by the com mission and by the Civil Governor has not been interfered with or overruled In. any case. The only appointments of a civil character made by the Administration in the United States since the commission entered upon Its duties have been the Governor, Vice-Governor, and members of the commission, appointed by the Presi dent on the recommendation of the Sec tary of ,War; tho Auditor, Deputy Au ditor, and Treasurer, who are officers of an independent accounting system, ap pointed by the Secretary of War; the Director-General of Posts, appointed by the Postmaster-General." On tho subject of forest product the Secretary reports: "Tho most evident and striking ele ment of wealth in the Philippine Islands consists of its fbrests. The official geo graphic statistics of 1S76 fix the forest area at 51.537,243 acres. In 1830 Fernando Castro estimated the forest area at 48, 112,920 acres. But a small part of this vast area Is in private ownership, and there are probably between 40,000,000 and 50.000,000 acres of forest land which for merly belonged to the Crown, of Spain, and by the treaty of Paris became the property of the United States. Pine, ce dar, mahogany and hnudreds of hard woods, valuable dyewoods, and rubber and gutta-percha trees exist in Immense quantities. "From time immemorial the Inhabitants of the Islands have been accustomed to resort to these public forests for their firewood and lumber in the exercise of rights under licenses regulated by law. The forestry laws and regulations of Spain in the Philippines, while affording this use of the public forests to the peo ple, aimed at the establishment of a sci entific system of forestry similar to that; which exists in Germany and other Euro pean countries. These regulations were, however, not adequately enforced. Upon the military occupation of the country by the American forces it was determined, ir possible, to enforce the system and at the same time preserve and utilize tho forests. The principal followed under such a syetem, Instead of cutting all the trees at once and leaving waste land. Is to cut only the full-grown irees, leaving the smaller trees to grow and in their turn become Teady for cutting in a never ending series. The annual growth of these forests Is rstlmated at 1,400,000,000 cubic feet, about three times the cut of lumber for 1900 In the entire United States. At present'more than 99 per cent of this annual growth is going to waste. With proper treatment It may be made an in exhaustible source of wealth. "The commerce of Manila," says the Our stock of goods, specially selected to satisfy every imaginable want, is now ready for examination, and we can state positively and with a justifiable degree of pride, that it excels all previous efforts along this line. The world has been levied upon and all of the leading manu facturers have contributed their choicest products. It is well to remind you that we give a guarantee with all of our goods, and everything purchased at this store will al ways be found exactly as it has been represented to you by our salespeople. Out-of-town orders carefully and promptly attended to. Store open evenings. Goods laid aside for responsible parties. report, "urgently demands the creation of a thoroughly protected harbor with suf ficient depth of water to accommodate tho largest ships, where they can lie in safety and load and discharge their car goes in all weathers. More than 20 years ago tho Spanish Government formulated an elaborate scheme for the improvement of the harbor, and had completed about 30 per cent of the work before the cession of the islands to the United States. After a careful examination of the plans and specifications of the Spanish engineers by Major Blddle, now the Engineer Commis sioner of the District of Columbia, and then chief engineer of the Division of the Philippines, they were adopted with some modifications. By act number 22, passed October 13, 1900, and an amendatory act number 101, passed March 19, 1901, a sum of 51,000,000 In American money was ap propriated for tho improvement of tho harbor, and contracts were authorized for an additional amount not exceeding ?2, 000,000. Discussing banking and currency. Sec retary Root says: "I beg to call attention to the statements made In my last report upon the urgent need of reforming tne currency of the Philippines, which is Jn as bad a condition as is possible. Time has confirmed the opinion in which I then con curred with the Secretary of the Treasury that the wise course Is to coin and pay out for Government uses pesos of a little less than the weight and fineness of the Mexican pesos of 377.17 plus grains of pure silver, at the rate of two silver pesos for one gold dollar, the ratio now maintained in tho islands between Mexican dollars and American gold dollars, and to main tain that same relation between the new coins and gold by exchanging gold for them at that rate. "I am satisfied that such coins, being substantially identical ,in size anJ ex change value with the coins to which tho people are accustomed, will pass into cir culation, and that as rapidly as this is accomplished the business of the country will come upon a gold standard basis rep resenting a fixed relation between the pro posed coins and American money. "There is urgent need for greater bank ing facilities In the Philippines. There are no American banks there, and there is no power to create any banking corpora tion. The effect of this Is that the bank ing establishments which were estab lished under Spanish rule still monopolize the field, while American capital is ex cluded. I recommend the extension of the National banking act to the Philippines, with such modifications as the circum stances demand. "Tariff. Tho tariff bill mentioned in my last report as having been prepared by the commission has been completed. The publication of the bill in the trade ana other newspapers of this country, accom panied by an invitation of criticism, re sulted in a large volume of correspond ence, all of which was carefully consid ered, and in some changes, which were made with the concurrence of the com mission. The appraisers of the New York custom-house, and other tariff experts In this country, were consulted as to tho descriptive language used, In order to avoid, so far as possible, ambiguities which might lead to litigation. "After being first approved by the Sec retary of AVar, it was enacted by the Philippine Commission on the 16th of Sep tember as act No. 230, and went into ef fect on tho 15th of November. It repre sents more than a year of painstaking consideration and discussion by compe tent men thoroughly familiar with the business conditions and government needs of the Philippines, with tho benefit of three years experience of the good and bad points of the former law, with tho benefit of the best expert assistance and advice, and with full opportunity for pub lic criticism and suggestion by the busi ness men both of the Philippines and of the United States. "Business and Revenue. Notwithstand ing the serious disadvantages under which it has labored, the business of the islands has increased during the past year. The total value of merchandise (exclusive of Army supplies) Imported during the fiscal year 1901 was J3O.279.405, as against ?20,W1, 436 for the fiscal year 1900, and the total value of merchandise exported during the fiscal year 1901 was 523,214,948, as against 519,751,058 for the fiscaL year 1900 an In crease of 47 per cent in the value of im ports and an increase of 17 per cent in the value of exports. "The imports came .from the following countries: United States.. 4 5 2.855.685 United Kingdom 6,956,145 Germany 2,135,252 France . 1,683,929 Spain 2.161,352 China t 4.339,941 Hong Kong 2.340.5S5 British East Indies 2,182,892 All other countries 5,623,625 "The exports went to the following countries: United States $2,572,021 United Kingdom 10,704,741 Germany 81,526 France 1,934,256 Spain 1,655,255 China 73,701 Hong Kong 2,697,276 British Bast Indies 759.286 All other countries 2,736,8l6 "The Imports from the United States show an Increase of 72.4 per cent over the Imports of 1900, and the exports to' the United States show a decrease of 27 per cent from the exports of 1900. The im ports from the United Kingdom, from Ger many, from France, and from the British East Indies have increased in a greater proportion than the imports from the United States. "The revenues of the Philippine govern ment during tho fiscal year 1901 amounted to 510,817,662 31, as against 56,723,852 18 dur ing the fiscal year 1900. The total expendi tures during the fiscal year 1901 amounted to 56,763,82168, as against 55,218,38112 In 1900, making an increase of revenues of over 54,000,000, and an increase of expendi tures of about 51,500,000, and a surplus of revenues over expenditures of 54,053,840 65, as against a surplus of 51.505.471 06 for the preceding year. Of course, the great ex penditures which have been undertaken for public works, education, Insular con stabulary, extension of the judicial sys tem, etc., will rapidly dispose of surplus. Webfoot Hard Wheat Flour Is milled in the most approved manner. FELDENHEI SOME PERTINENT j& TACTS j& THE CHINESE LOAN BILL EXCITING SCENE FOLLOWED ITS PASSAGE BY FRENCH CHAMBER. Seymour Bell Told London Business Men Why They 'Are Losing American Trade. PARIS, Nov. 28. The Chamber of Dep uties today, by a vote of 3S5 to 213, adopt ed the Chinese loan, after rejecting two paragraphs of the final article, which the commission had inserted against the wish of the government, and which would have excluded religious congregations from the benefits of ttw loan, and which also pro vided that Indemnities be distributed to private claimants only as China paid the installments. Both paragraphs were thrown out by big majorities. The adoption of the bill was followed by an exciting epilogue. Joseph Laslos, anti Semite, Introduced a motion affirming the confidence of the Chamber in the army, and expressing gratitude toward the offi cers and soldiers who accompanied the French bishop, and describing the mis sionaries In China as thieves and pillagers. Waldeck-Rousseau, the Premier, op posed the motion and Its adoption, point ing out that President Loubet and M. An dre the Minister of War, had already ex pressed the government's recognition of the service of the members of the China expedition by going to Marseilles to wel come them upon their return to France. Regarding the missionaries, M. Waldeck Rousseau said it was not for Parliament to pass judgment on them. A noisy debate followed, in which the members of the Chamber of Deputies were repeatedly called to order. This was no table In the case of M. Lasles, who point ed to M. Andre and cried: "Every one here defends the army except that man." Finally the government accepted a mo tion to the effect that the Chamber or Deputies associated itself with the gov ernment in tho homage paid by it to the expeditionary corps to China. This mo tion was adopted by a vote of 314 to 163. SUPERIORITY OF OUR METHODS. Seymour Bell Tells London Business Men Why They Are Loaing Trade. LONDON, Nov. 28. Sixteen reporters and six British business men gathered this afternoon In response to the Don do Chamber of Commerce's general In vitation to hear Seymour Bell, the com mercial agent of Great Britain In the Unit ed States, expound his theories on Ameri can trade competition. He said that all America wanted from abroad was dally growing smaller, but that Great Britain was being cut out of even this small portion of the market by France and Ger many. Mr. Bell attributed this to Great Britain's backwardness in using labor saving and automatic machinery. He de clared the working classes of Great Brlt ian must be educated up to this and-be convinced that their use was essential before Great Britain could compete with America. Mr. Bell also said there was ho doubt that the reciprocity in the United States would result In tho removal or reduction of many of the duties now en forced, but it would be in the case of ar ticles in which the United States was quito safe from foreign competition. Mr. Bell said there was a growing need for tea and Scotch whisky in tho United States. The statement disclosed the fact that the Indian and Ceylon tea merqhants had entered into a pooling arrangement for the purpose of promoting the sale of their brands in the United States. The commercial agent denied the statement that American cement was inferior to Portland cement. One of the fetor merchants present de clared that American trade was complete ly ousting British trade from Central and South America. Discussing what became of old men in America, Mr. Bell said that a man of over 45 years of ago had hard work to get any position there, and that this was one of the most serious factors In the future American business life. Scotch whisky, It was also said, is now being made In New York and exported in large quantities to South America. Mr. Bell reassured his hearers that there was no" prejudice against British goods, only they could not expect them to be bought, when, as is the case with agricultural machin ery, tho American article was lighter, more durable and cheaper. Nor could tho colonies be blamed for patronizing Amer ica In preference to Great Britain in this branch of machinery. He praised the specialization adopted by American manufacturers, and concluded with de claring that while nothing which could not be remedied existed to prevent Great Britain from holding her own, her manu facturers must get more modern machin ery, and must compel their employes to use it. FOOD ADULTERATION. Report of a. Committee of the London Government Board. LONDON, Nov. 28. The departmental committee of the local government board, appointed In 1899 to Investigate food pre servatives and coloring adulterants, re ports that it Is common knowledge that the food-producing capabilities of this country do not suffice for tho needs of the population. A total prohibition of pre servant methods Is likely to be attended with disastrous results to the public health, as large quantities or food pos sessing highly nutritive elements might be held from the poorer classes or be lia ble to be condemned in a condition of In cipient putrefaction. The committee finds that of the preserv ant agents in common use, on one alone rests any well-founded suspicion that it is liable to inflict Injury, and the commit tee further says that no direct evidence of Injury from the uee of preservatives has been brought before It. The only proposition recommended in regard to the coloring pigments Is the uee of copper M sulphate coloring of tinned peas or similar articles. The committee recommenda that the use of a certain preservative agent, previously referred to, in foods and drinks, may be absolutely prohibited, and recommends the prohibition of a preserv ative or any coloring whatever In milk. Mixtures of boraclc acid and borax not exceeding 5 per cent are permitted in but--ter and a certain class of imitation butter. TERMS OF SURRENDER. Hdme Secretary Ritchie Said Salis bury's Remarks Were Dl&torted. LONDON, Nov. 29. In the course of an Important speech at Croydon last night tho Right Hon. O. T. Ritchie, Secretary of State for Home Affairs, declared that Premier Salisbury's remark that "no shred of independence should be left to the republics" has been twisted and con torted In a way Lord Salisbury never in tended. "It was not intended," he said, "that the Boers should not have a representa tive in the government, or that we in sisted upon, unconditional surrender, ex cept in the sense that we could not again offer the terms which had been rejected." If any General, representing tho Boers in arms, said the speaker, had made a the Boers should, in the course of time. have a representative in the govern ment, he was satisfied-such a proposition would form a basis for the conclusion of peace. "We desired a termination of hostili ties," concluded Mr. Ritchie, "so that uoci JuiU .....uii ciiL xx, lOgbkiiLi .a peace and amity, and the same extraordi nary success which has attended the Brit ish administration of Egypt would be present In South Africa If the Boers would only frankly acknowledge their defeat and ae-k for terms." Mahnn on the Anglo-Boer War. LONDON, Nov. 29. Captain Mahan's es say in the December lesUc of the Na tional Review on the South African War, in which the writer maintains that Brit ish prestige has been rather augmented than diminished by the events of the past two years, is the subject of laudator expressions In all of today's papers. The Standard says: "With the substantial benefits attained which Captain Mahan Indicates, we need care little about what is said by ill-informed or ill-natured per sons abroad." The Morning Post, commenting on the article, thinks the British people would do well to note Captain Mahan's criti cisms, as well as his appreciations. Russia Honors Ito. ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 28. The Czar granted an audience to the Marquis Ito, the Japanese statesman, this afternoon, and later Count Lamsdorff, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave a gala dinner in honor of the visitor. An effect ive entente between Russia and Japan is regarded as the probable outcome of the audience, although it is not anticipated that permanent or binding obligations will be undertaken by either government. Unter den Linden Alterations. BERLIN, Nov. 28. After a llvejy debate today the Municipal Council, by a vote of 64 to 51, adopted the plans for altering Unter den Linden that were approved by Emperor William. During his speech, In which he accused the members of the Municipal Council of lacking backbone, and In which he referred flippantly to the deference shown the Emperor's wishes, the Socialist- Deputy, Herr Singer, was called to order. Grnuotti Is in Chicago. ROME, Nov. 28 The newspaper Fan fulla credits Signor Giolettl, Minister of tho Interior, with the statement that Louis Granotti is now In Chicago, where he Is being shadowed by the police. (According to a dispatch from Milan, November 25, Louis Granotti, an accom plice of Bresci, the assassin of King Humbert, was that day sentenced to Hfc Imprisonment. The dispatch also said that Granotti had not yet been captured.) The Bismarck. Correspondence. BERLIN, Nov. 28 -The long-delayed published here today. The -work Is In two volumes. The first is made up of the let ters between Emperor William I and Bis marck, many of which are very interest ing, while the second volume is com posed of miscellaneous letters exchanged between Bismarck and various notable personages. Purchase of Battle Abbey. LONDON, Nov. 28. The mystery sur rounding the sale of Battle Abbey by pub lic aution has been solved by the an nouncement that Sir August Frederick Webster, Bart., is tho purchaser. The new owner is a descendant of Sir Thomas Webster, who bought the Abbey from Viscount Montague In 1719, and whoso fam ily retained possession of It for 130 years. Obstruction by Belgian Socialists. BRUSSELS, Nov. 28. Amid scenes of violent disorder, the Socialists forced an adjournment of the Chamber of Deputies, owing to the refusal of the government to consider a universal suffrage resolution. The Socialists announced they would con tinue their obstruction until their demands ore granted. Tidal Wave on English Const. LONDON, Nov. 29. A remarkable tidal wave, accompanied by strong winds, has done much damage along the eastern coast of England from Norfolk to Kent. Rivers have overflowed their banks, dam3 and seawalls have been Invaded and miles of country have been submerged. Iovfa Pioneer Dead. DES MOINES, la., Nov. 2S.-Judge Phil lips, the oldest member of the Polk Coun ty bar and one of its wealthiest pioneers, died at Phoenix, Ariz., last night He had gone there for his health. HOLIDAY DIAMONDS JEWELRY WATCHES CUT GLASS OPERA GLASSES STERLING SILVERWARE UMBRELLAS FINE LEATHER GOODS 7 .0. u... N&.Nltfei I fl I . ' . bNa4sn TRIBUTE TO ROOSEVELT CAMBON TOASTED THE HEALTH OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT. .tn iue inanKgiving uinner in jjoii- j don Yesterday The Day Ob served in Berlin. LONDON, Nov. CS. Three hundred guests assembled this evening fdr the Thanksgiving dinner given under the aus pices of the American Sooletv In Ten don. Paul Cambon. French Ambassador j vu urwiu niain, proposea tne neaitn 01 President Roosevelt. M. Cambon paid a feeling tribute to the late President Mc Klnley, whose death, he said, had shocked France and knit the sister republics in closer bonds of sympathy and sorrow. While President Roosevelt was an un known quantity in the world, said" M. Cambon, his was a cultured, energetic and charming personality, and his eleva tion to the Presidency had been received in France with the hopplest anticipations of carrvinc: on those cordial relations which had existed between the two coun-. tries for over a century past. Conan Doyle, the novelist, produced per haps the greatest effect of the evening by declaring the pendulum of the com mercial world had now shifted to some where between New York and Chicago. At Berlin. BERLIN, Nov. 28. American residents of Berlin to the number: of S00 formally celebrated Thanksgiving day with a sup per and dance at the Kalserhof tonight. Tho corner-stone of the new American church here was laid today by Ambassa dor White. At Mexico City. MEXICO CITY, No. 28. American resi dents celebrated Thanksgiving day by a special ball, which was numerously at tended. President Diaz was among the Invited guests. Many members of the Pan American Congress were present. At Vienna. VIENNA,. Nov. 28. United States Min ister Robert S. McCormlck and Mrs. Mc cormick signalized their entry into the official life of the capital by holding a brilliant Thanksgiving day reception here in their new residence. Thanksgiving nt the White House. WASHINGTON, Nov. 28. Thanksgiving day passed very quietly at the White House. There were no official callers. President Roosevelt came early to the office, before the employes were there, and finding nothing to engage his at tention, he started off for a walk. Al though there was a snapping northwest wind blowing and this was the first day of real dintry weather, with a slight fall of snow on the ground, the President woro no overcoat, but clad In a closely buttoned box-coat and wholly unattended ho walked to the home of Secretary Root. Interrupting the latter at his morning work, the President carried him off and tho two went out into tho suburbs for a walk. President and Mrs. Roosevelt had a large party of friends at their Thanksgiving dinner at the White House' tonight. They included Senator and Mrs. Lodge. Commander and Mrs. Cowles and a half dozen others. New England Thanksgiving. BOSTON, Nov. 28. Had there been snow on the ground in the southern section, New England would have had an old-fashioned Thanksgiving today. In the north ern parts there was deep snow and over all tho territory it was as much llko winter as It could be without snow. The day was-observed according to the ancient custom very generally. The usual relig ious services were held In churches and the charltablp institutions and philanthro pic persons as usual fed multitudes who otherwise might have gone hungry. THOUGHT IT WAS A COMET. Strange Phenomenon Seen by Chica gonns Last Evening. CHICAGO, Nov. 28. What appeared to be a comet was visible hero In tho Southern sky this evening. Its position as viewed from the Audi torium tower, in which the United States Weather Bureau is situated, was about 10 degrees southeast from the zen ith. It was difficult to judge of Its length for the reason that it was pointed directly upward and was apparently going from tho earth, but Professor Cox, in charge of the bureau, said that in his judgment it was about two degrees long. "I am not an astronomer," said Pro fessor Cox, "but I feel very positive It was a comet. It was plainly visible at 5:30 o'clock, and we could see It at 7 o'clock, when it became invisible on ac count of tho Increasing haze. All the men In the office here saw It. It could not have been a meteor, for it remained prac tically in tho same position during tho entire time it was visible, and no meteor would have done that. Its apparent im movability shows, too, that it was at a great distance from the earth. There was a head which was plainly visible to tho naked eye and still more plainly seen when viewed through a glass. There was also a well-defined tall." So strange and unusual was the appear ance that it could not bo accounted for definitely by local astronomers. Whatever it wos, it certainly played to a large gal lery In Chicago. Opera glasses were in demand, and the crowds craned their necks to get an observation with the nak ed eye. "It was almost certainly a streamer or the aurora borealls," said Professor Hall, of the Yerkes Observatory. Lake Geneva, Wis., who was spending Thanksgiving in Chicago. "So far south, however, auch manifestations of the northern lights are ANNOUNC A GLANCE AT JEWELHY Broochea, Earrings, Rings, 6tick Ping, Cuff Links, Sleeve Buttons, Ladies' Chains, ' Bracelets, Studs and Scarf .Pins. Charms and Lockets, Fobs for Gent3, Baby Jewelry, Emblems, SILVERWARE Tea Sets, Candelabra, Tureens, Water Sets, Vases, Salad and Berry Bowla, Bread and Cake Plates, -.Photo Frames, Shaving: Mugs, Chafing Dishes, Bonbon Dishes, i Desk Articles. WOODARD, Orientals and Art Goods Those who love the beautiful in art are cordially invited to inspect- our direct importation of recent and antique Ori ental pieces. The senior member of our firm during his stay in the Orient, made a personal selection of Porcelains, Satsuma and Cloisonne Oribe Pottery Carved Ivory, Antique Bronzes, Brass Koros, In laid Porcelain on Sterling Silver, Shin Shin Vases, Etc., etc. There are no duplicates, there have been no exorbitant commission charges, the genuineness of every piece is assured, and the opportunity thus presented to the people of Portland is unequaled. Connoisseurs pronounce our display as being absolutely the finest ever shown In this city Our holiday selections will satisfy every possible requirement of fastidious and careful buyers. WOODARD, CLARKE & CO. extremely Unusual. If It were a comet It would appear to move with the other stars from east to west." Professor George W. Hough, of the Ob servatory at Northwestern University, commenting upon a description given him, said: "It may have been a reflection of the lights of the city, or It may have been a searchlight reflected in the clouds and heavy atmosphere. Such things are alto gether possible. It would hardly be the aurora borealls, since the northern llghta would not be apt to be seen so far south without brilliant manifestations to the north also. A comet would not make so sudden an appearance. If a comet were headed north, we should have telegraphic reports concerning It from South America before it would have had time to reach here." DROWNING AT NOUMEA. Launch Fonndercd, Causing the Loni of Fifteen Lives. VICTORIA, B. C Nov. 28. News of the foundering of a launch at Noumea causing the drowning of 15 prisoners, was received by the steamer MIowera. Tho steamer St. Pierre had arrived from the Isle of Pines with 34 prisoners, includ ing three women, and the launch went out to tender the steamer. It was too small and being overcrowded capsized and all on board were thrown into the water. The members of the kanaka crew of the St. Pierre dived into tho water repeatedly and saved many, but 15 were drowned, Including Warden Andre, who was in charge of the launch. The accident was witnessed by several hun-. area people rrom the wiiarr. From the New Hebrides news was r ceived that the boats of the French re cruiting vessel Marie Henry were at tacked by the natives who were Incensed because of the misconduct of a former recruiting vessel which had shanghaied a number of natives. Securing rein forcements tho French landed, burned a number of huts and canoes, but the natives fled. The schooner Julia was also attacked at Pentecost Island. The crew of the vessel returned the fire and driving back the native landed and burned some huts. Including that of the teacher of the mission, who was seen at the head of the natives. Two sailors of H. M. S. Wallaroo were lost in the bush of Epl Island and were four days without food when found by somo natives and taken to the mission aries. The auxiliary schooner Mascotte, a trading vessel built at San Francisco, wa3 wrecked at New Britain. Rich discoveries of gold have been made at the Woodlark Island gold fields, near Samara!, New Guinea. Sensational evidence Is being produced at Wellington, N. Z In connection with the loss of tho steam yacht Ariadne, George Mumford, T. C. Kerry and Frek are under arrest charged with casting tho vessel away, having wrecked it to de fraud the underwriters. Mumford was paid $2000 by Kerry to wreck the vessel, which was Insured for $50,000. The ves sel was valued at $25,000. German Investments in Venezuela. BERLIN, Nov. 28. The Berliner Tngeblatt, discussing the effects of tho Venezuelan Iroubles upon German iter ests, says that while tho railroad be tween Caracas and Valencia, In Vene zuela, in which German capital is heav ily interested, Is still in operation, the Venezuelan government has entirely sus pended tho payments of interest to the German holders of the road's securities and that by this suspension of payment the Indebtedness of the government of Venezuela to the German security hold ers now amounts to 9,500,000 francs. The PART OF THE STOCK... SILVER AND GLASS Puff Boxes, Inks. Mucilage Pots, Colognes, Lavender Jars, Atomizers, Bowls, Vases, Claret Jugs, Vaselines, Vinaigrettes, Flasks, TOILET GOODS Silver Mirrors. Silver Brushes, Sliver Military Brushes. Silver Combs, Sliver Whisks, Sliver Trays, Silver Buffers, Silver Manicure Sets, Sliver Manicure Pieces, Ebony Combs. Ebony Mirrors, Ebony Hair Brushes, Ebony Military Brushes, Ebony Manicure Pieces. M NT j,& w.jmiMffl CLARKE & CO. W Por Infants and Children. The Kind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signatu.ro of Tageblatt further sas that all efforts to Interest the Imperial government In be half of these German creditors have proved unavailing. LONDON, Nov. 28 "Germany will fke no steps against Venezuela." cable's lh- Berlin correspondent of the Dnily Newt, "regarding the financiHl claims of Ger man subjects against Venezuela, without a previous understanding with the Unit ed Statei,." "Wilcox's Visit io Wiithlnston. VANCOUVER, B. C, Nov. as. Honolulu papers received here today by the steam er MIowera contain extended accounts o tne purpose of the visit of Delegate II cox to Washington. He will ask for $1, C00.0CO appropriations for Improvements m the islands. . Lepers in Hawaii have written to th- papers charging the Board of Health wlt'i neglect and misdemeanors In connection with thIr supply of food and water They ask for a state commission to investigate. Qucon of Belprinm 111. LONDON, Nov. 29. Marie Hennette, Queen of tho Belgians, is ill. TmiM Just before retiring, if your liver Is sluggish, out of tune and you feel dull, bilious, constipated, take a dose of '' And you'll be all right in the morning. DoctorsSay; Bilious and Intermittent Fevers which prevail in miasmatic dis tricts are invariably accompan ied by derangements of the Stomach Liver and Bowels. The Secret of Health. The liver is the great "driving wheel" in the mechanism oi man, and when it is out of order, the whole system becomes de ranged and disease is the result. Tutt's Liver Pills Cure all Liver Troubles. it. MISCELLANEOUS Canes and Umbrellas, Opera Glasses. Cut Glass. Gold Pens, Gold and Silver Penclla- Thlmblas, Card Casc3, Desk Pads, Bolts, ART GOODS Ivory Figures, Miniatures, Bronzes, Marble Busts, Kayser Zlnn, FIXE LEATHER GOODS Purses, Wallets. Bill Books. dUTSc Tutf s Pills Cure AM Liver Ills inevnt&r: tftm g? - vs yy Cor. Third and Washington Sts.