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VOL. XIX. NO. 11.
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MOANING, MARCH 18,.. 1900.
PRICE FIVE CENT&
6 .
- ! T ,
SIEGE OE MAFEKING
Relief of the Town Expected
at Any Time.
BRITISH CONFIDENCE IN ROBERTS
Only Hope lor the Boers Xow Ib la
Foreign Intervention, and There
Is No Likelihood of That.
LONDON, March 18, 3:35 A. 21. Amidst
the festivities of St. Patrick's day, Lon
don has been listening lor -word that
Mafeklng Is relieved. It is remarkable
that the revival or this holiday, wnicn
puts St. Patrick's1 day hereafter on an
equality with Primrose day, has been the
occasion of the first real gala day since
the declaration of war. Christmastide
was gloomy. Indeed, 1n comparison with
today's merry-making, g.
There is much in the situation in South
Africa to Justify rejoicing, however, for
the rapid pacification of the Free State
leads the people of Great Britain to believe
that they have a statesman as well as a
strategist In the hero of the hour, "Bobs."
"With railway communication open to tho
Cape and the morale of his army at its
highest, England is now ready to trust
the Commander-in-Chief to complete the
remainder of his task in his own way,
confident of his ultimate success.
So far as the Free State is concerned,
although the Boers are entrenching at
the Vaal River, the impression at Cape
Town tonight Is that the war Is virtually
over. The Transvaal officials are said to
have vacated Taungs and Vryburg, but
the rebels are unwilling to enter the Free.
State, being anxious to trek homeward.
No one would be much surprised If i
great spread of this contagion occurred
in the next fortnight.
Lady Randolph Churchill, who started
homeward on the hospital-ship Maine
yesterday, cabled to the committee that
ehe regards it a compliment to the United
States that the Maine was the first ship
to leave as soon as Klmberley was re
lieved. There are 13 officers and 153 non
commissioned officers and men aboard
tho Maine.
Spencer Wilkinson reviews the war
news for the past week for the Associated
Press as follows:
" 'The great secret of war is personal
ity Napoleon said. In war the big thing
is not men. but man, and the sudden
change in the state of the South African
war Is due to the presence and power
of one man, Lord Roberts. Seven years
ago I spent many weeks with him in
India, accompanying him as his guest on
his last tour of Inspection of the Indian
armies. I saw for myself how 200,000 men
worshiped him. Since his return from
India there have been influences striving
to keep him in the background. The dis
asters of the Winter gave him his oppor
tunity, and nowjCye world sees what he
has made of itSTien Sherman set out
to march through4J5eorgla he asked Gen
eral Grant for an old chunij Cavalry Offl-ci-r
Wilson, I think, and when Wilson
-ame lie sat up half the night talking to
Sherman, who. before retiring, .said: 'Wil
son, Til tell you where Grant beats all
the rest of us. He don't care a d
for what he can't see the enemv doing.
rnd it scares me like h .' Roberts is
like Grant. He is too big to be disturbed
nt anvthlng. and he quietly does juct
what ho meins to d-. Accordingly, 1 ii
'movements have knocked the Boers out
of time.
Drelfonteln turns out by the losses on
froth sides to have been one of the hardest
fought actions of the war. It has fin
ished the Free Staters. Roberts entered
Bloemfontein Tuecdav and the result has
been the comnlete collapse of Free State
resistance. The railway opened without
difficulty to the Orange River, the rebel
lion in the Cape collapse, the Free Stat
ers turning round wholesale, meanwhile
the Transvaal Boers solemnly declare that
they hav made Biggersberg irnpergnable.
but Buller has no need to run his head
aga'nst Biggersberg. Lord Roberts, by
advancing along the "Vaal River, would
turn Bijrgersberg and the Boers must
then be between two armies.
"The Transvaal Boers may fight on In
the hope of foreign intervention. They
have no other chance, as either British
nrmy outnumbers them and they cannot
escape being between two fires exceot by
retreat. But though I can see no chance
fr them, except through intervention. I
expect the Transvaal Boers will fight until
the last, as their animosity against the
Brit'sh is deep and rooted. Intervention
hardly seems likely, as the British navy
Is an unknown quantity and the British
Nation quite determined.
'The fate of Mafeklng is uncertain. All
recert reports show that despite the great
hardships, the garrison will hold out: the
besiegers are growing tired and timid,
and relief movements are in progress
north and south, but the news is in
definite. The situation Is summed up in
the Associated Press latest dispatch,
that the relief of Mafeklng may be ex
pected at any time."
Railroad Open to Lohatsl.
LOBASTI. Bechuanaland, Monday,
March 12, via Lourenco Marques, March
17. The railroad Is open to this point and
there is wire communication as far as
PltsanL The Boers who were at Sequanl
have retired to Ruskonburg. The relief
of Mafeklng Is expected at any day.
Pole-Carew Reaches Xorval's Pont.
VANZYL, Friday. March 16. The rail
road has been reopened from Bloemfon
tein to Nerval's Pont. General Pole
Carew and the Grenadiers have Just ar
rived at Norval's Pont.
Boer Defenses at Bisra-arsberf?.
GLENCOE, March 15, via Lourenco
Marques, March 16. The Boer defenses
along the Biggarsberg have been com
pleted and are said to render the posi
tions impregnable.
FRANCE'S INTENTIONS PEACEFUL.
Effect of Del Cause's Speech on the
British Pnhlic. .
LONDON, March 17. The mouths of the
panic-mongers have been stopped, and by
a Frenchman. It is a curious commentary
upon a certain side of the British char
acter, which has latels' been much in
evidence. Several papers of fair standing
have seriously been putting forward the
probability of war with France, and their
sensations have been gulped down eager
ly by a email section of the British pub
lic, though well-informed people are only
amused. France, however, was not the
only Nation which It was asserted medl
rated an Immediate Invasion of England.
Russia, Germany and Austria; according
to the manufacturers of panics, had de
js'gns to take advantage of Great Britain's
troubles in South Africa.
With the cries for home defense in the
ascendant, Great Britain might have du
plicated the scenes when the Island await
ed the prospective Invasion of Napoleon.
But M. Del Casse, the French Minister,
soke, and the bogy of European hostility
and Interference vanished. The hand of
the Frenchman restored calm to Great
Britain. Without the bias of friendship,
ho disclosed the common sense with which
France and other European powers were
governing their relations toward Great
Britain, and bore home what has "fre
quently been set 'forth in these dispatches
I. e.. that no power bad the slightest
Intention of go!i to war with Great
Britain at present, and no power was
anxious to Intervene in behalf of the
Boers.
The pacific condition which European
matters assume is far more likely to be
disturbed by trouble In the Balkans than
by the South African war or anything In
which Great Britain is chiefly concerned,
though even the Balkan difficulty Is most
unl.ely to result in a Continental war.
This latest trouble exists in the apparent
determination of Prince Ferdinand tp de
clare himself King of Bulgariaand re
nounce Turkey's suzerainty. He would
scarcely contemplate this without the
backing of Russia, whence come Prince
Ferdinand's Generals, guns, and, this
week, his national loan. As the Spectator
points out, for the Sultan to refuse ab
solutelv the reauest of Prince Ferdinand,
supported by Russia and not negatived by
the .triple Alliance, would be a very seri
ous event Indeed, "and it may occur
sooner than we who are looking south
ward, instead of eastward, are ready to
suppose."
However, there is no reason to suppose
it will not blow over, as did the friction
between Great Britain and Germany over
the seizure of the latter's ships in South
African waters. To what extent that
friction went was only known this week,
when a bluo book giving the correspond
ence of the governments concerned was
published. The tart demands of the Ger
man Ambassador and Lord Salisbury's
astonished comments at being thus ad
dressed by a Nation, which Mr. Chamber
lain but a few weeks previously had lov
ingly included In the so-called "new Drel
bund," came as a revelation. Had not the
matter been completely settled, thanks to
Lord Salisbury's giving way, and had not
Great Britain been so completely en
grossed by the progress of her arms in
South Africa, it would have raised a storm
of indignation against Germany 50 time
greater than did Emperor William's cele
brated cable message to President Kruger
after tho Jameson raid.
The correspondence Itself shows no evi
dences of reconciliation, but it is learned
that this has been effected, and also that
rather curious circumstances attended the
negotiations. Whenever the German Am
bassador saw Lord Salisbury, "butter
would melt in his mouth." and his words
were honeyed, yet when Count von Bulow,
the German Minister of Foreign Affairs,
spoke publicly, he was anti-British, and
when the dispatches which would, in the
nature of things, be published, were writ
ten by the German side, they were formu
lated In the same strain. To quote a
British Foreign Office official: "Germany
flaunted us in the face of the world and
curried favor privately."
Kipling has been quite the disappoint
ment of the week, his "The Sin of Witch
craft" creating little Interest, and it 13
severely criticised all around for its lack
of common sense.
PRISONERS FOR ST. HELENA.
Only the Transvaalers "Will' Be Sent
to the Islaad.
LONDON, March 17. A dispatch to the
Exchange Telegraph Company from Cape
Town, dated today, says it has been de
cided to send only the Transvaalers to St.
Helena, the authorities finding it difficult
to prevent conflicts between the Free
Staters and the Transvaalers.
Colonel Schlel, who "was caotured in
Natal in the early part of tho war, has a
special sentry at his door to prevent htm
from doing himself boally violence.
Captain Johnson and Third Officer
Boltcge, of the steamer Moshona, cap
tured by a British cruiser and subsequent
ly released, were drowned in a gale last
night. Four others were drowned, and a
boat's crew from -the Cheshire is missing.
Consul Hay Waiting? for a Reply.
PRETORIA, Thursday, March 15, via
Lourenco Marques, Friday, March 16.
The United States Consul. Adelbert Hay,
has not received a reply from the United
States since he asked for Its good offices
In behalf of the Boers toward peace. State
Secretary Reltz has received a dispatch
from Washington, saying the war was ih&
subject of friendly negotiations with the
British Government, and it contained an
expression of the President's earnest
hopes for peace. All the Consuls are co
operating for the general good of the
whole community.
Transporting- of Prisoners Delayed.
CAPE TOWN, March 17. The departure
of the transports with the Boer prisone.s
for St. Helena was delayed on account of
the fact thaf many Boers- nave been sick,
including many infectious diseases. The
authorities are striving to comnlete the
isolated hospital by Wednesday, and the
transports will probably sail that day.
Volnnteers at Esquimau.
"VICTORIA, B. C, March 17. The right
half of company A, now being recruited
In British Columbia, will not go to Hall
fax, but will assist the imperial troops In
garrisoning Esquimalt for the present.
CONFERENCE AT OMAHA.
Passenger and Traffic Men Consid
ered North Pacific Coast Rates.
OMAHA, March 17. There was held at
Union Pacific headquwtcrs today a con
ference of traffic and passenger men of
several Western roads, to consider the
condition of business to the North Pacific
points. What was done la not given out
authoritatively, but it is stated that it
was decided to maintain both passenger
and fre.ght rates to that territory, in
spite of the action of the Canadian Pacific
There were present General Passenger
Agent Burleigh, of the Short Line, and
General Passenger Agent Hurlburt, of the
Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company;
D. Miller, vice-president of the Great
Northern; J. M. Hannaford, vice-president
of the Northern Pacific, St. Paul;
James T. Clark, second vice-president
and general manager of the Omaha road,
St Paul; B. Campbell, traffic manager
of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
Company. Portland, and S. W. Eccles,
traffic manager of the Short Line, Salt
Lake.
a i
Search, lor Mlsslnsr Island.
WASHINGTON, March 17. The Hydro
graphic Office has taken steps to have the
United States ship Iroquois make a search
for the missing Morrell Island, while she
Is engaged in the survey for a cable route
In the Pacific Several reports have
reached the office to show that ships have
sailed directly over the place where the
Island was charted. The officers say this
may be owing to a mistake made by the
early recorders, hut they will verify tho
fact.
The Late Aaron Stein.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 17. Aaron
Stein, secretary and assistant to the pres
ident of Wells, Fargo & Co., who died last
night, had been connected with tho com
pany since 1S65. He was formerly agent
of the United States Express Company at
Muscatine, la., and the success of the old
time transcontinental pony express was
largely due to his ability. He wis born
at Scranton, Pa., and was 65 years of age.
He leaves a widow in this city and rela
tives la tho East
FREED THE PEONS
Governor Leary Issued
an
Emancipation Proclamation.
NO MORE SLAVERY IN GUAM
6
General Wheeler Reported to tho
Navy Department on Conditions
la. the Ladroaea,
WASHINGTON, March 17. Tho follow
ing proclamation has been issued by the
Governor of the Island of Guam:
"To the Inhabitants of Guam: In issu
ing this decree, the Government desires
and earnestly invokes Divine blessing and
- W retail TSz ROONSTAD
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iXv I ColabfiBg J Ivrfh V r AMWALWOItTHTi"'- ' o 3
THE .TERRITORT WTTHttf THE LIKE OF CROSSES IS SOW CONTROLLED BT LORD ROBERTS ATTD THE BRIT
ISH AR3TY.
guidance in its official action and in the
dally pursuits and occupations of the cit
izens of Guam. By the cession of the Isle
of Guam to the United States of America,
all of the authority, power and responsi
bility of sovereignty were transferred to
this Government and in transforming and
organizing the new political power, the
surest and speediest route to success,
prosperity and happiness for the inhabi
tants of this island ls by benevolent assim
ilation to the fundamental principles that
constitute the basis of free American Gov
ernment "Honest labor, with just compensation,
dignified by faithful consideration of the
mutual interests and welfare of all con
cerned, should Insure prosperity to this
community; whereas, the existing labor
degrading system of human bondage and
unjust, indefinite servitude of peonage.
permitted during the late Spanish control J
ln this Island, was in fact a system of slav
ery- and as such was subversive of good
government an obstacle to progress, civili
zation, a menace to popular liberty and a
violation of the sacred provisions guaran
teed by the Constitution of the United
States.
"Now, therefore, by virtue of the author
ity vested in me by His Ex
cellency, the President of the
United States, I, Richard P. Leary.
Captain United States Navy, Governor of
the Island of Guam, do hereby announce
and publicly proclaim absolute vprohlbltlon
and total abolition of human slavery or
peonage ln the Island of Guam on and
after the 22d day of February, A. D.
1S00, and all persons are hereby command
ed to comply with the requirements of
this proclamation.
"In witness whereof, I hereunto set my
hand and have caused the seal of the
United States Naval Station, Island of
Guam, to be affixed.
"RICHARD P. LEARY.
"United States Navy, Governor."
LEARY IS DODXG WELL.
General "Wheeler's Praise for
the
Governor of Gaanx.
WASHINGTON, March 17. General
Wheeler called at the Navy Department
today to consult with Secretary Long
and Assistant Secretary Allen, who is
more directly ln charge of the islands
under tho naval government respecting
the report he was charged to make upon
the Island of Guam and the administration
of Captain Leary, the naval Governor.
The renort ls not yet quite complete, but
the General read extracts to indicate Its
character. In substance, he found the
Island well favored climatically, that It
was of strategic Importance to tho United
States, was especially valuable as a mid
way coaling place in the long run from
Honolulu to Manila, and that the people
were well satisfied with the change in
their condition. They were of a docile,
pleasing character, and those of the In
habitants who preserved the traits of the
original owners of the soil were of fine
physique.
Considering the extensive reforms Cap-
tain Leary had been obliged to laaugu-
rate, he had succeeded very well In hold
ing the regard of the majority of the
people of tho Island.
BISHOP POTTER RETURXS.
Says Conditions in the Philippines
Are Satisfactory-.
NEW YORK, March 17. Bishop Honry
C. Potter arrived today on the Campania
from Liverpool. Speaking of the condi
tion of the Philippines, which Islands he
visited in his absence from home, he said
that on the whole It was satisfactory. Tho
rrT- In h "PhtHrmtnna ia. onM Vi V-
lieved to be practically over. He paid cans today nominated Julius Fleischmann
a strong tribute to the American sol- for Mayor by acclamation. The Demo
diery. Bishop Potter sjild he went to the i cratlc and .Independent Republicans ap
Phllipplnes .on an ecclesiastical rniesion, I pointed conference commltteec to select a
and added that scroe advance had been fueion ticket
made toward the establishment of an Epis
copal church la the Philippines. $
Chinese LI tter-B carers SUbussco.
WASHINGTON. March 17. eneral Otis
has rescinded instructions heretofore is
sued from .the headquarters of tha De
partment of the Pacific permitting' the em
ployment of Chinese as litter or burden
bearers for troops in the fletd or on the
march. All Chinese still employed in that
capacity will be discharged from, the
service. General Otis has Also ordered
to be revoked the order allowing fee
specific payment of money from the pub
lic civil fund for the purchase of diet for
the regimental sick, an advantage having
been taken of the said allowance.
Censas of Manila.
WASHINGTON, March IT. The War
Department has received & report .from
the sanitary corps which has been roaK
lng a census of Manila. It places the pop
ulation actually living in houses within
tho police district at lSO.TWO. The terri
tory included in this census does not em
brace the suburban district or take into
account people living- In bancos. dr those
OCCUPATION OP THE ORANGE FREE
who are Inmates of convents and seminar
ies. The Chinese population was turned In
as 8852. This is said to bo far out of the
way. It i3 estimated that at least 60,000
Chinese live ln the city.
Added to the Transport Fleet.
WASHINGTON, March 17. The Wat
Department has purchased from the
North American Mall Steamship Com
pany the steamship Columbia for use as
a transport ln the Pacific Tho Columbia
had been chartered by the army trans
port service from last August up to a
short time ago, when she was released.
She is now in San Francisco harbor.
Mead Sails for Manila.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 17. The
transDort Meade sailed fer Manila, via
Honolulu, today, with 23 doctors, 69 hos
pital corps men and 26 recruits. It has
been decided that hereafter all transports
ivaiiii6 ima -iij iui iuuuu .. w wm o.w
xionoiuiu. fione oi me transports naa
stopped at Honolulu for some time, ow
ing to the existence of plague there.
Enllstlne Filipino Musicians.
WASHINGTON, March 17. The Adju-
tant-Genoral received a telegram today
from General Otis acklng authority to al
low Filipinos to enlist as members of
regimental bands ln the Philippines. The
request will be granted as a matter of
policy.
New Orleans Xeeds Repairs.
WASHINGTON, March 17. A report
from Manila Indicates that the cruiser
New Orleans must undergo extensive re
pairs ln order to continue in active serv
ice. ABANDONS BRYAN.
Esgesc V. Brewster Takes Exception,
to His Anti-Trust Views.
NEW YORK, March 17. Eugene V.
Brewster, of Brooklyn, who was toast
master and chairman of the Bryan dollar
dinner, and who has been probably the
most conspicuous man of the so-called
"Chicago-platform Demorcacy," has writ
ten a letter to W. J. Bryan, ln which he
says that he cannot support Mr. Bryan for
the Presidency, and that he now aban
dons all efforts to "effect a union of re
form forces" under Bryan's leadership.
Mr. Brewster, ln a aiscussion oi tne gen-
eral question of trusts and machinery,
says:
"The trust question, to which you are
devoting most of your attention, involves
the very greatest and really the, only prob
lem that the Americans have to solve. Re
gretfully, you seem to see only one side
of the case, and, seeing only evil on this
side, you would unhesitatingly destroy
the trust You do not seem to relalze,
dear Mr. Bryan, that the same argument
that you apply to the trust ako applies
equally well to Improved machinery, and
yet you would not destroy that. I have
carefully studied "the conditions and the
many remedies offered by various parties
and factions, and it seems to me that cooperation-socialism
ls the only practical
and -the only possible remedy."
Mr. Brewster expressed hla discontent
of each of the principal existing political
parties, and announces his adherence to
Eugene V. Debs. He tells Mr. Bryan that
with his brilliancy and oratorical powers
he would soon "bring the world to his
feet" If only he would believe and speak
as does Debs.
Cincinnati Municipal Tickets.
' fTWNWlT7 Mnrch 17 TVta PnntiMI,
DEMAND A DECISION
Puerto Ricans Call for Settle
ment of Tariff Dispute.
BUSINESS IS AT A STANDSTILL
Large Delegation e Country Women
Petition Governor-General Davis
te Save Then From Starvation.
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, March 17. At
a special meeting of the Chamber of Com
merce today it was decided to close all
business houses Monday to enable the
merchants to attend an open-air meeting
on the plaza, -with the object of drawing
STATE.
up a petition to Governor-General Davis
demanding immediate Congressional de
cision on the tariff, one way or tho other.
The agreements were sent to all towns
throughout Puerto Rico, requesting like
demonstrations.
The feeling of uncertainty regarding the
tariff holds business practically at a
standstill, the merchants being afraid to
order goods or to advance funds on the
planters' accounts. The meeting today
was conducted In a calm and business
like manner. The merchants will be sat
isfied to accept any direction of Congress,
either free trade, the 23 or the 15 per cent
tariff, but they ask for settlement of tho
question, so that business activity may
be resumed. They decided to take this
unparalleled step only after mature de
liberation. Sixty country women marched from Na
ranjito, arriving last evening, and peti
tioned General Davis to save them from
starvation and to provide work and food.
The women presented a most pitiable
sight They were barefooted and ragged,
half naked, dust-covered and weary from
their Journey. The petition which they
presented to the Governor-General tells
the story of tho depressing times, no
work, and the price of rice, beans and
j bread beyond reach, fruits, destroyed and
the -relief supplies discontinued, bringing
them and others where they came from
almost to starvation.
General Davis promised relief to the
party and requested the Mayor to pro
vide them transportation. His reply was
that there was not a peso In the treasury
and that tha police were yet unpaid for
their last two months' work. Similar par
ties are expected from other towns.
AKTI-TRUST FEATURES.
Amendments to tho Ship Subsidy
BUI Drafted.
WASHINGTON, March 17. The final
drafts of the amendments to the ship sub
sidy bill agreed upon by the House com
mittee on merchant marine and fisheries
have been completed.
One of these amendments declares the
Sherman anti-trust law to be "specifically
applicable to tho builder, owner, or either
or both of them, of any vessel entering
Into any contract provided for by this
act, and any such vessel is hereby de
clared to be property ln the course of
transportation within the Intent of the said
law."
The other two amendments, designed
further to prevent combinations ejther be
tween shipowners or bufiders, are as fol
lower "Section IS That on complaint made to
the Secretary of the Treasury that two or
more persons owning, controlling or oper
ating vessels registered and entitled to
compensation under this act which ag
gregate In tonnage one-third of the total
tonnage of all vessels so leglstered and en
titled to compensation, have entered Into
any contract combination or conspiracy,
whatsoever be the form thereof, for tho
purpose of controlling the terminal facili
ties for shipping in any port or ports of
the United States, or of regulating or In
creasing the rate of fares for freight or
passengers in trade or commerce among
the several statos or with foreign nations,
or for granting any special rebates or
privileges to shippers in such commerce
or for otherwise putting any restraint
upon trade or commerce among the several
states or with 'foreign nations, the Secre
tary shall fix a tlmo and place for hearing
such charges and give notice thereof to
the. persons interested, and may require
the production before him of any contracts
or papers which he may deem material
In the consideration of such charges.. If,
after such notice and hearing, the Secre
tary of the Treasury shall sustain such
charges, thereupon the right of the person
or persons so found violating the provis
ions of this section and their assigns to
any compensation under this act shall im
mediately cease and terminate,
"Section 24 That any contract comblna-J.
tloa or conspiracy, In whatever form made
or entered Into between persons owning,
controlling or operating two or more ship-
nnlB In J-Via TTnftri Staifv TOhfrh linrR
'constructed or are constructing or are
capable of constructing during any one
year vessels aggregating In tonnage one
third of tho total tonnage of the new
vessels registered and entitled to compen
sation under this act, for the purpose of
limiting or controlling tho number, ton
nage, classes, type or kind of vessels to
bo constructed therein, or for regulating
In any manner the terms or Increasing the
prices of construction of such vessels, is
hereby declared to be Illegal; and any
consolidation, absorption, salo or transfer
by the persons owning, operating or con
trolling two or more shipyards of the
United States of the capacity aforesaid
of such privileges franchises or property
of such shipyards for the purpose of lim
itinc or suDnreaslnr camnetltion among
such shim-aril AYid of nlacintr control of
the terms and conditions of such contracts Ington Post, which supported McKinley
for constructing vessels therein under one & everything he did from the time he wag
management, Is hereby declared to be ille- elected up to within a very few weeks,
gal. Upon written complaint filed with ls now engaged nearly every morning in
the Secretary of the Treasury by any per- l "rubbing It Into" the Chief Magistrate,
son having a contract or application for Tn paper's leading editorial this morning
a, contract for tho construction of new 3tae3:
vessels In the United States under the So far as the country now knows, so
provisions of this act or a violation of the far as the Post knows, so far as any
provisions of this section, the Secretary authentic utterance warrants the hum
shall give notice to the Interested person West citizen in believing, the President
or persons of such complaint and fix a , still stands on the declaration contained
time nd a place for a hewing on the , ln his message and advocates free trade
charges made, and may require the per- for PuerS?Ico ,He mate that declara.
son or persona against whom the charges tlQn ho deliberately, and based it upon
are made to produce before him any con- f 3Uch s9fef?n aj?d. Persuasive array of
tracts or papers which he may deem to ' ac- that the whole country responded
be material in the consideration of such , his overture with fervor and sincerity.
charges.
"If the Secretary of the Treasury shall
find that the provisions of this section
have been violated he is authorized and
directed, upon the application of the per
son or persons having contracts or appli
cations for contracts for the construction
of vessels as aforesaid within two year3
next thereafter, to grant register, as pro
vided by Jaw, as vessels of the United
States to fbrelgn-bullt vessels to the ag
gregate tonnage of the vessels constructed
by the persons so found violating the pro
visions of this section during the year
next preceding such order. Such foreign
built vessels so registered shall be regard
ed as new vessels constructed ln accord
ance with the contract or application for
contract of such person 'or persons, and
shall be deemed to be constructed ln com
pliance with such contract or application
therefor and with the terms of any bond
provided for by this act, and shall be en
titled to all the benefits and privileges and
be subjected to all tho changes and obli
gations applying by this act to new ves
sels constructed In the United States, ex
cept that such vessels shall not enter the
Coastwise or Lake trade of the United
States. The words 'person or persons.'
wherever used ln this section, shall be
deemed to Include 'corporations,' 'associa
tions' and 'partnerships' existing under or
authorized by the laws of either the
United States or of any state or of any
territory or of any foreign country.
"This section shall not be held to In
terfere with or prevent the enforcement
of any other law of the United States pro
hibiting contracts, combinations or con
spiracles In restraint of trade."
THE DAY IX THE HOUSE.
Ealoges Upon the Late Monroe L.
Hayivard.
WASHINGTON, March 17. Members of
the House today pronounced eulogies upon
tho late Monroe L. Hayward, Senator
eleot from. Nebraska, who died before tak
ing the oath of office. No other business
of importance was transacted.
Kahn (Rep. Cal.) called up a bill to pro
vide for the purchase by the Karluk Pack
ing Company of a strip of land ln Alaska
used by the company for the past 20 years.
The bill was passed.
Burkett (Rep. Neb.) then presented reso
lutions ln memory of the late Monroe L.
Hayward. Tributes were paid to Hay
ward's memory by Burkett Mercer, Stark,
Sutherland and Neville of Nebraska, and
Hull of.Iowa. The usual resolutions were
adopted, and the House, as an additional
mark of respect, at 1:25. adjourned.
WAR TALK IN TEE ORIENT
Xothing: on the Stirfnci to Indicate
nn Impending Conflict.
YOKOHAMA, Feb. 28, via Victoria,
March 17. The persistency with which the
Western press clings to the imminence of
war between Russia and Japan is at
tracting much attention here. Thus far,
there has seemed to be no foundation
whatsoever for the rumor. The fact which
now Impresses the public is the arrival of
representatives of some oi the prominent
New York papers, they having been sent
for the express purpose of being upon the
L spot when the outbreak comes. This, to
gether with the activity prevailing in the
Russian squadron in Eastern waters, as- i sent, a special order, or recognition un
sembling In force In the Corean Straits, der the two-thirds rule, to get it up, which
and the reports constantly coming in of iS hard to obtain for a bill that has op
extraordinary doings at Port Arthur, have position. Mr. Moody hopes, however, to
there is so much smoke there must be
some flro, and the people and press are
correspondingly on the qui vive. In of
ficial circles, however, the utmost calm Is
manifest, while everybody else is wonder
ing what It all means. In the meantime,
one of the Chinese papers actually pro
pounds the theory that Japan will be like
ly to take the opportunity furnished by
the approaching naval maneuvers in the
Corean Straits to strike a sudden blow at
Russia.
Yokohama has been visited by anothei
great fire, sweeping away some SCO houses
in the native town. Comparatively little
destitution has not been caused by it as
the Japanese are now largely availing
themselves of the resource of Insurance,
"'S.ej'i'SoseiSerwa, SSS on
mwJ3 AdAitnltl nttiiA(Av tin VmwaHIi
the 2ith Inst, after a session of small
accomplishments.
GERMAN' EXCROACHMEXT.
Forclble Occupation of Shan Ttrnar
Province, China.
VICTORIA, B. C, March 17. According
to advices by the IdzumI Maru today, the
report that Germany ls to essay what Is
everywhere recognized as a practical oc-
cupatlon of tho province of Shan Tung ls
generally credited as being ln line with
the now accepted plan of foreign en-
croachment in distracted China. The
steps of the process are vsry simple. First
comes, me runway tuutrauuu, men uuujia
to protect the works, military occupation,
and finally complete alienation of the ter
ritory. This has been Russia's invariable
course In Manchuria, and there Is no rea
son, It is argued, why Germany should
not follow suit In the meantime, signs
pre more -than ever rife that the great
Empire will soon be torn by civil strife,
thus accentuating the necessity for for
eign nations to carry things with a high
hand ln order to protect their interests.
The new Japanese Minister to Washing
ton, Hon. Kogora Takahua, to succeed
Komura, who has been ordered to St.
Petersburg, has been for some time the
Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and ia
considered well qualified for his new post
The nsw appointment of Mr. Komura ls
also highly approved, as It ls of the great
est importance that Japan at the present
critical Juncture should have at St Pe
tersburg one ot her meat trusted and
competent diplomats.
WHAT IS HIS POLICY?
Country Wants to Know Where
McKinley Stands.
CONGRESSMEN ARC GROWLING
Will Vote Against the Bill if Thr.
Agraln Have the Opportunity Re-'
xandinc Bill Reported.
WASHINGTON. March 17. Tha Wash-
I k ne qo5 cnangeu ms mina since men, it
any of this agitation In Congress for a
tariff against Puerto Rico has his encour
agement and sanction, the American peo
ple do not know it and have no reason
to believo It"
This Is followed by amplification of tho
text, stating that the people desire to
stand by McKinley and pointing out that
McKInley's loyal supporters, the Republi
can masses of the Union, are still with
him. The paper asks whether these loyal
Republicans are to take the words of the
President in his message or the state
ments made by Lodge and Smith and oth
ers, who pretend to represent him in &
different light. It ls known that theso
and other expressions of the press
throughout the country are worrying the
President a great deal, and he earnestly
wishes some method of settlement might
bo reached.
Many Republican Congressmen are
growling because tho President has left
them in the peculiar situation of facing
his recommendation while he himself
gives no voice to Congress of his senti
ments. But McKinley is not the only man
that Is worried. The proposed tariff ls
giving a great deal of concern to Allison
of Iowa, Fairbanks and Beveridge of In
diana, Elklns and Scott of West Virginia,
and a number of other Republicans where
tho sentiment seems strong In favor of
free trade "for Puerto Rico. That some
sort of an arrangement will be patched
up within the next few weeks ls alto
gether likely. The Republicans who voted
against the bill In the House declare if
tho bill ever comes over' there in an
amended form those who voted for the
bill against their better Judgment and are
now hearing from their constituents will
not do so again.
Sacccss of the Ife-tv Carrcncy Law.
The prediction was freely made by tha
opponents of the gdldnstandard bill, and
especially by those who objected to the
refunding proposition, that the bonds ot
the United States Government could not
bo floated at 2 per cent The rush to take
up these bonds which has been going on
since the bill became a law shows tho
fallacy of that argument, and makes it
plain that a 2 per cent bond is desired
by tho people, especially when It can bo
used as the basis for national bank cir
culation. The operation of the gold-standard
law has been so easy and accom
plished without any panic or monetary
disaster of any character, that its friends
now believed that It will commend itself
most thoroughly to the people, and will
be of great assistance to the Republi
cans In the coming campaign.
Double Minimum Land Bill Reported.
Representative Moody today finally se
cured a favorable report from the com
mittee on public lands on the double min
imum land bill, which provides for refund
ing to entrymen under the homestead and
pre-emption acts 51 25 per acre on all
such entries ln the forfeited Pacific Coast
railway land grants. Representative
Brundlge, of Arkansas (Dem.), who
opposed tho fcommittee, "threatens to file
a minority report. The bill, if It becomes
a law,- will require an appropriation of
?1.500,000, about J265.000 of which will go to
settlers on the forfeited Northern. Paciflo
grants, tho majority of which Is In East
ern Oregon and Washington. Represent
ative Jones, who has been and ls Co-operating
with Moody, is to report the bill.
This bill, as It requires an appropriation.
must bo referred to tho calendar, where
t it is necessary to have unanimous con-
secure the passage of the act during thl3
Congress, if not In this session. A similar
bill was introduced and passed! through
tho Senate by Senator Dolph. Several
bills of this nature have been before tha
House committee slnco then, but this ta
the first time one has been favorably re
ported to the House.
Republican Party and Trusts.
It ls a great question with the Repub
lican party whether it can get rid of tha
charge of being ln coalition with the trusts
during the present campaign. At every
corner the party is mot by the assertion
that the trusts are In control of the party,
and that It was the trusts that conducted
the House uporr- tho Puerto Rican tariff
measure. A number of other things Indl-
cate a friendliness for trusts, and many
1 S " ?a5
would not be strange to seo party plat
forms ln the Congressional districts In
the states denouncing the trusts vigor
ously, and It is also believed that the
National platform will be very strong ln
this regard. The House committee on Ju-
, dlcIary nas finally been moved to take up
j tnc subject of Republican policy during
this Congress. Meanwhile, the party ia
on the defensive, and Is compelled to do
more or less explaining, which makes any
, campaign very hard. The general belief is
j that the people will not be deceived by
( any Democratic professions, and that thft,
, prosperity which tho country Is enjoying;
j m offset any assertions that may ba
made that the party ln power ia.ln tho can-
XTOl Ot lao trusts.
FIVE DEAD, TWO INJURED.
The Result of Starting: n. Fire Wlta
Gasoline.
COLUMBUS. Or.fMarch 17. Five dead
and one fatally and one seriously injured
is tho result of an attempt to start a
fire with gasoline last night George
White used the fluid at James Weaver'3
residence, and an explosion followed.
The building ras sot on fire, and the In
mates were covered with the burning
fluid. The dead are:
Philip Weaver, aged 49.
Roy Weaver, aged 14.
Lorain Weaver, aged 3. ,
Tully Weaver, aged 3.
Joseph White, aged 351.
Alice Weaver was fatally burned, and
I James Weaver seriously burned,